U.S. Soy
Delivers
Solutions
For you.
For your customers.
For the planet.
What is Sustainable U.S. Soy?
It is soy verified by a third-party that the soy was produced sustainably in the United States.
Produced sustainably means U.S. farmers use practices that:
- Conserve natural habitats and promote biodiversity,
- Enhance soil health and productivity,
- Support crop health,
- Reduce and recycle waste,
- Improve energy-use efficiency,
- Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions,
- Safeguard the quality and supply of water, and
- Manage nutrients in a responsible manner.
Produced sustainably also means the soy was produced under fair working conditions, using practices that support worker and public safety and foster community relations.
Furthermore, sustainable U.S. Soy includes a commitment to continuous improvement, adopting best management practices, as well as new methods and technologies.
How is U.S. Soy Verified as Sustainable?
Soy Export Sustainability LLC uses the U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP) to verify sustainable production. The SSAP outlines how farmers contribute to improving environmental, social and economic outcomes. The protocol includes regulations, processes and management practices that ensure sustainable soy production.
When you encounter the Sustainable U.S. Soy label, it signifies at least 60% of the soy used in the product has been verified as sustainable by the SSAP.
For products containing whole soybeans, a minimum of 90% of the soybeans must be verified to use the Sustainable U.S. Soy label.
The SSAP was developed through a process involving the entire value chain, ensuring a measurable and results-driven approach. It undergoes regular reviews and updates. Each year, third-party farm audits are conducted for compliance.
Use of the Fed with SUSS label requires at least 60% of the soy in the feed ration to come from verified sustainable U.S. Soy.
Why Choose Sustainable U.S. Soy?
U.S. soybean farmers and the soy industry have invested in sustainability for more than 75 years. Recent measurements of progress since 1980 demonstrate significant achievements in sustainability for the U.S. Soy industry, such as:
- 48% land use efficiency improvement,
- 46% energy use efficiency improvement,
- 43% greenhouse gas emissions efficiency improvement,
- 34% soil conservation improvement, and
- 130% crop yield increase.
These achievements are due in part to research investment from farmers and the industry leading to technology advances and new farming practices. The success also relies on U.S. Soy’s dedication to continuous improvement.
The spirit of improvement carries on as the U.S. Soy industry aims for more sustainability success through these goals by 2030:
- Reduce the land use impact of U.S. Soy by 10% (calculated as planted acres per bushel)
- Reduce soil erosion in U.S. Soy production by 25% (calculated as tons of soil loss per acre)
- Reduce energy use in U.S. Soy production by 10% (calculated as BTUs per bushel)
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions generated in U.S. Soy production by 5% (calculated as pounds of CO₂ equivalent per bushel)
Plus, U.S. Soy has the lowest carbon footprint, including Land Use Change, of the main origin countries supplying soybeans to the global market.
U.S. Soy’s low carbon footprint is due to U.S. farmers implementing cultivation practices and techniques to minimize emissions, while U.S. forest land has remained stable for nearly 40 years.
Carbon Footprint (Including Land Use Change) of Whole Soybeans
