Soy certification can increase rural producer earnings

The adoption of certification of the use of production practices used in soybean cultivation has grown in Brazil. Whether due to the possibility of obtaining better prices for the final product, or as a result of specific demands from consumer markets.

For some farmers, joining these systems means not only contributing to environmental preservation, but also adding value to their product, ensuring competitiveness and opening up market opportunities.

Diego Di Martino, sustainability director for Latin America at ADM, explains that there are different types of certifications and several certifying legal entities. In general, the interested producer must seek the necessary reference for the market that interests him. This is because there is a basic set of demands common to almost all certification programs. However, there are also specificities.

ADM, for example, has the "ADM Responsible Soybean Standard" (ARS - Responsible Soy Standard, in free translation). This is a voluntary verification scheme that aims to promote responsible agricultural production, both environmentally and socially. This standard is applicable to the company's soy suppliers and its main objective is to ensure that sustainable agricultural practices are not only adopted, but also maintained over time.

To ensure compliance with the ARS standard, a third-party inspection body performs annual assessment, with specific knowledge and accreditation for sustainability standards. Inspections will be managed by ADM itself and carried out in groups, organized by the company.

Practical aspects about certification are discussed in the video below: