On Thursday 15 December 2012 a large group of companies and associations involved in the Dutch soy chain signed a letter of intent to move to responsible soy in 2015. Signatories included the Dutch Feed Industry Association (Nevedi), FrieslandCampina, the Dutch Dairy Association (de Nederlandse Zuivelorganisatie NZO), the Dutch Meat Association (Centrale Organisatie voor de Vleessector (COV)), The Dutch Farmers Union (LTO Nederland), The Product Board for Poultry and Eggs, the Product Board MVO and the Dutch retailers Albert Heijn, C1000, Jumbo, Lidl en Superunie, which ensure that 90 % of the soy use in The Netherlands is covered. WWF and Solidaridad and 4 other Dutch NGOs support the initiative.
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| Source: Peter Smit, Levensmiddelenkrant |
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The companies have pledged to purchase and process increasing volumes of sustainably produced soy in the coming years moving up from: 500.000 tons in 2012 to 1 million ton in 2013 and 1.5 million ton in 2014 and 100 percent in 2015. They will use this for the production of meat, dairy, eggs and other foods in the Netherlands. The plan is expected to require an investment of 7 million euros. Half of this amount will be provided by the Dutch Initiative Sustainable Trade, the other half by industry partners. Joost Oorthuizen: 'This amount is needed to help growers in South America to support the improvements that are needed for the RTRS certification.' The parties intend to form a foundation that directs the transition.
The initiative will consider as sustainable soy that is grown and traded in accordance with the principles and criteria for Responsible Soy production as set by the Roundtable on Responsible Soy (RTRS) or equivalent standards. During the transition period up to 2015 responsible soy will be bought through the so-called mass balance model and via certificates. This will stimulate producers to start producing RTRS certified soy, while supply chains are being built up.
The Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS) was established in 2006 in Switzerland as a so-called multi-stakeholder initiative. Parties from around the soy chain are represented in the round table: soy producers, buyers, investors and NGOs such as WWF and Solidaridad. RTRS has over 150 members. The RTRS criteria focus on preventing further loss of areas with valuable biodiversity, sound use of pesticides, respect for land rights of local communities and ensurance of good working conditions.
The announcement can be found on the Nevedi website.