Nordic-Light-Jun2014-Aug2014

Brazil receives the 9 th International
Conference on Responsible Soy
On May 7 and 8, more than 200 representatives from all over
the world participated in the 9th International Conference
on Responsible Soy (RT9) in the city of Foz do Iguaçu in the
State of Paraná, Brazil. The focus of the conference was on
how the global soy value chain and business must innovate
to meet the challenges of sustainability.
Among many featured speakers were Senior Manager Kjell Lundén Pettersson
from Arla Foods, the largest producer of dairy products in Scandinavia,
and Gustav Kämpe, Coordinator for Sustainable Development at Lantmännen,
one of the Nordic area’s largest groups within food, energy, machinery
and agriculture, presenting for the large audience how the Swedish food
industry is working to improve their commitment to responsible soy and sustainability.
Other noteworthy participants included Fortum Värme and HKScan.
RTRS
According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization ( FAO), global
agricultural production needs to double by 2050 to meet growing demand.
The transition to a sustainable global food system therefore needs concrete
and coordinated actions. The Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS), organizer
of the conference, was created in 2006 with the aim to ensure the
worldwide sustainable cultivation of soy and the social responsibility of the
soy sector by preparing, implementing and monitoring a dialogue between
all actors involved in the soybean value chain. RTRS also offers a recognized
and consensual agreed certification scheme with principles and criteria
covering environmental, economic and social aspects.
For Arla Foods, the RT9 conference presented good opportunities to
The Swedish delegation at the RT9 conference in Foz do Iguaçu (from left to right): Kjell
Lundén Pettersson, Arla Foods; Ulf Wikström, Fortum Värme; Nadja Pilpilidou, Fortum
Värme; Vera Söderberg, HKScan; Gustav Kämpe, Lantmännen; Anders Lejdholt, Fortum
Värme; and Stefan Lundkvist, Swedcham Board member and Fortum Värme agent.
(Photos by Silvio Fotografias, Foz do Iguaçu, silviofotografias@hotmail.com)
Kjell Lundén Pettersson of Arla Foods.
discuss different matters with representatives from soy
producers, industry/trade and civil society. The company
found several new opportunities to cooperate with
other parties and together have better possibilities to
initiate and drive national dialogues in several countries
supporting a more responsible soy production.
Lantmännen said this year’s RT9 conference
showed how important it is that the whole food
value chain together make a commitment for a more
responsible soy production. The work done in the
Swedish Soy Dialogue can be seen as a good example
to other countries and companies to increase the
demand of certified soy to harvest in 2015.
Of Fortum Värme’s total production of district heating
in the Stockholm region, more than 80% comes
from recycled or renewable energy, and the long term
objective is to fully substitute fuels such as coal and
fossil oil. Among others, Fortum Värme can use waste
or by-products from the soy industry to produce heat in
the district heating boilers. The company believes RTRS
is a good initiative that ensures that the end product is
produced in a responsible manner.
For HKScan, a manufacturer of meat foods and
products, sustainable meat production begins with
sustainable animal feed production. The conference
brought learning opportunities, fruitful discussions
and a broad network in the entire soy value chain
as well as among researchers and other key persons.
HKScan will ensure that by the end of 2018, all soy
used in its entire meat value chain will meet the
requirements of the RTRS.
16 JUNE - AUGUST 2014