Day Two.
Opening Address
RTRS has come a long way, its Executive Director told delegates on the opening of the second day of RT14. Marcelo Visconti thanked Rabobank once again for their support for the conference and for their ongoing and significant commitment to sustainability. Marcelo told delegates that one of the key aspects of RTRS was its convening power as a true roundtable of all those involved in the soy value chain. The members and partners, many in the room, were its greatest strength, he remarks.
And he built on a theme of the connections that RTRS succeeds in making. In the Northeast of Brazil RTRS has been the fulcrum linking European demand with local supply.
“We are always looking to the future. The ever-changing nature of what being responsible or sustainable actually means.” Marcelo Visconti, RTRS
RTRS was created as a ‘safe space for a dialogue on social and environmental issues in the complex soy system’. After it was established RTRS members agreed on a comprehensive set of standards to deliver its vision and a certification scheme to achieve that vision. It was amongst the first credible processes for securing transparency in soy supply chains.
“Today,” said Marcelo, “RTRS continues its efforts to strengthen its role as a space for dialogue. It continues to play a critical role in linking supply and demand. Zero deforestation and conversion is now a central part of the standard.” Marcelo Visconti, RTRS He re-emphasised the holistic value of the standard that RTRS champions, including a safe and healthy workplace, community benefits and good agricultural practice, among others. 24
