RTRS announces new members in 2020

At the beginning of 2020, six new organizations joined the International Responsible Soy Association – RTRS as members of the Industry, Commerce and Finance segment. Food producing companies Premier Foods PLC and KellyDeli from the United Kingdom join the association with the purpose of adopting new and better strategies to increase the use of sustainably sourced soy in their products and promote transparent and responsible supply chains with their suppliers .

“We support sustainable soy production and for this reason we made the decision to be members of RTRS and fulfill our role in making its vision a reality. Our mission is to ensure that by 2025, 100% of the soy we acquire, directly or indirectly, meets the standard of responsible soy production and is therefore socially fair, economically viable and environmentally correct” reinforced Paul Corscaden, Head of Purchasing at Premier Foods PLC.

For Celine Record, Corporate Responsibility Manager at KellyDeli, “soy is a key ingredient in the food we produce and for this reason our participation in RTRS will allow us, not only to improve our supply policy, but also to publicly announce our commitments to a production with zero deforestation.”

The leader in fresh prepared foods from the United Kingdom, Bakkavor Foods Ltd. and the Finnish cooperative that supplies food products to several supermarkets, hotels and restaurants in Russia and Estonia, SOK Corporation, decided to join RTRS with the aim of promoting growth production, trade and use of responsible soy through the acquisition of RTRS credits and the commitment to incorporate certified soy in its products.

For the Central Responsible Sourcing Manager at Bakkavor Foods LTD, Ian Burgess, the main factor for acquiring certification is the growing concern about deforestation “For Bakkavor, the growing demand for soy for animal feed represents one of the main factors causing deforestation in the world. In light of this, the organization joins forces with RTRS to support the use of RTRS soy and to address and promote zero deforestation.”

Senja Forsman, Corporate Responsibility Manager at SOK Corporation, highlights that the group joins the RTRS with a commitment to promoting responsible soy in its supply chain. “Our purpose is that, by the end of 2021, the products we offer in our restaurants and cafes in the S-Group chain, as well as the products that have the S-Group private label, will be produced exclusively with RTRS and Pro Terra certified soy” .

Foyle Food Group Ltd., an organization of Dutch origin, becomes an RTRS member with the aim of transferring to its producers the benefits derived from the development of sustainable practices that guarantee zero deforestation in the livestock industry. “Soy is an element used in feed in the beef production chain and, as beef processors, we want our suppliers to migrate to the use of sustainable soy in livestock farming. RTRS membership keeps us up to date on sustainable soy production and the impact of farming practices that ensure zero deforestation,” emphasized Emma Russell, Efficiency Manager, Foyle Food Group.

The producer of biodefensive products for crop treatment, Koppert Biological Systems, joins the association to take an active role in decision-making on sustainable soy. After two years of active participation and cooperation in various RTRS initiatives, the Dutch organization is committed to sharing its knowledge and experiences in biological control technologies with producers and industry leaders. For the Commercial Director of Koppert Brasil, the objective is to expand discussions on the topic and transfer knowledge. “Our goal is to be an active part of RTRS through dialogue and consensus through our participation in discussions on soy and corn certifications. Additionally, we seek to transfer our knowledge of biological control technologies in the field to certified producers and industry leaders.”