Responsible Soy Production, Sales Up 70% in 2015, says RTRS

Photo © iStockphoto.com/YinYang

The Round Table on Responsible Soy Association (RTRS) is celebrating a “record-breaking” 2015 in the growth of RTRS-certified responsible soy. Both production and sales of RTRS-certified responsible soy were up 70% in 2015, reaching more than 2.3 million metric tons worldwide.

Formed in Switzerland in 2006, RTRS is a civil organization dedicated to promoting global soy production that is “socially equitable, economically feasible, and environmentally sound,” according to its website. The RTRS Standard for Responsible Soy Production is designed as a “global reference standard for responsible soy production,” including protecting against deforestation and promoting production practices that are mindful of local communities.

The 70% increase in RTRS-certified responsible soy in 2015 is up significantly from growth previous years, compared to 50% increases reported in both 2013 and 2014, says RTRS.

“It is very encouraging to see that both the production and purchase of certified-responsible soy increased to such an extent,” says Marcelo Visconti, executive director of RTRS. “It reflects the ongoing effort in the whole value chain to link supply and demand for responsible soy.”

Visconti adds that for the first time, the RTRS credits logo is being used on the packaging of a consumer good-Unilever’s Ades soy beverage.

RTRS currently has more than 190 members and 10,750 certified producers around the world.

Read more:

Ingredient Spotlight: Soy Protein

Plant Protein: Searching for the Next Soy

Vitamin E from Rapeseed Offers Non-Soy Alternative

Michael Crane
Associate Editor
Nutritional Outlook Magazine
michael.crane@ubm.com