RTRS announces a new version of the Soy Standard and the launching of the new Corn Standard It was the result of a voting process by RTRS members by Written Resolution 2-2021, the outcome of which was announced last December 7. The documents that include new requirements for RTRS to be admitted as ISEAL Community Member were approved. It is an important milestone for the Association. Version 4.0 of the Standard for Responsible Soy Production and the Standard for Responsible Corn Production version 1.0 were the result of a multistakeholder review and development process, in compliance with the ISEAL’s Codes of Good Practice, and of the integration with different global sustainability guidelines and initiatives. Both were approved by RTRS members by Written Resolution 2-2021, together with the documents that include new requirements for RTRS to be admitted as ISEAL Community Member. The
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membership (Producers; Industry, Trade and Finance; and Civil Society Organizations) that met on different occasions in Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires, led by RTRS Secretariat Technical Team. The Working Group reviewed corn specific requirements for it is implementation in the certification process, and as a result, the RTRS Standard for Responsible Corn Production was drafted; it was subject to public consultation for two months, and was approved by the Executive Committee in 2021. It was finally submitted to RTRS members approval this year.
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Meanwhile, following the last approval in 2017, the revision of the Standard for Responsible Soy Production V3.1 began in mid-2020 by a Technical Working Group of more than 30 organizations with representatives from the three constituencies the Association, which met virtually between September 2020 and June 2021 with the facilitation of the Swiss firm BSD Consulting and the coordination of RTRS Secretariat Technical Team. Also, two public consultations were held whereby more than 200 comments and observations were gathered, and then reviewed by the Working Group to draft the version which was approved by the RTRS Executive Committee in September 2021, and subsequently submitted to RTRS members approval this year.
In addition to the approval of the standards, it is very important to note that the documents related to ISEAL membership were also approved. Being the first certification system in the soy sector to comply with ISEAL eligibility criteria RTRS became ISEAL Community Member. As part of the application process, RTRS adjusted standards and developed new procedures. For example, documents such as the RTRS Accreditation and Certification Procedure for Responsible Soy Production V4.3 and the RTRS Standard for Group and Multi-site Certification V3.2 were updated, and documents such as the RTRS Complaints and Grievances Procedure V1.0 and the RTRS Terms of Reference V1.0 were created. The approval of these documents demonstrates the commitment to continuous improvement of RTRS members asISEAL Community Member.
RTRS Standard for Responsible Soy Production V4.0 Highlights of the Standard for Responsible Soy Production V4.0:
• It aligns with the main definitions of the Accountability Framework initiative (AFi), particularly those of deforestation and conversion of natural lands, and those related to respecting the rights of indigenous peoples, local communities and workers. • It complies with the FEFAC (Federation of European Feed Producers) 2021 Sourcing Guidelines and covers verification requirements and non-conversion criteria. This means that the RTRSStandard for Responsible Soy Production 4.0 is complementary to the recommendations addressed to feed suppliers and chain partners who wish to source their soy in compliance with the European Feed Industry requirements for responsible soy production. • It intends to adjust the standard to gender equality terminology in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5. • It aims at providing a deeper understanding of the impact of RTRS certification on the production system. Because we are in the process of systematizing quantitative environmental information in compliance with the ISEAL Code of Good Practices and RTRS environmental footprint project.
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To keep in mind: • As of December 2021, RTRS certified producers will have a transition year to start applying and adapting to the new version of the Standard.
RTRS Standard for Responsible Corn Production V1.0 Corn is the most important cereal in terms of production globally, and the second most relevant in terms of planted area. In addition to the fact that RTRS certification is applicable worldwide to several commodities, continuous contact with producers confirmed the importance of creating synergies and opportunities to extend soybean certification to other grains, oils and seeds, mainly corn, a crop that is commonly included in the rotation with soy. Therefore, the RTRS Standard for Responsible Corn Production is an add-on to the existing soybean standard: • Many of the requirements provided for in the soy standard are applicable to corn and that is why the integration of a soy/corn certification system is feasible. • Soybean rotation with corn prevents soil erosion, helps maintain soil quality and improve soil fertility, and is a practice that the farmer must comply with to achieve soybean certification. • It also enables capitalizing on sustainability gains resulting from certifying soy and a sustainable production process by extending soy certification to corn. • It enables producers expanding the supply of crops produced in a responsible manner.
To keep in mind: • RTRS Standard for Responsible Corn Production will be available to all those producers certified under the RTRS Standard for Soy Production who want to certify their corn production; it is an add-on module, meaning that it cannot be certified independently from the RTRS Standard for Responsible Soy Production. • To certify corn, the producer will only have to comply with other 14 additional criteria beyond those required by the RTRS Standard for Responsible Soy Production.
These innovations seek to ensure synergies, build on what already exists and be complementary to the needs and requirements of the sector and the market, contributing to the fulfillment of sustainability objectives.
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