The American Soybean Association (ASA) is proud that the U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP) was positively benchmarked against the European Feed Manufacturers’ Federation’s (FEFAC) Soy Sourcing Guidelines through the independent International Trade Centre (ITC) customized benchmark tool in early March.

ASA President Richard Wilkins, a farmer from Greenwood, Del., congratulated the U.S. soy family on the accomplishment this week.

“This is another step forward for U.S. soy and sustainability,” Wilkins said. “The strong conservation practices of U.S. farmers allow us to produce large quantities and continue providing the EU with sustainable soy.  The soy family should be proud of the work we’ve done to maintain and strengthen trade and the value of U.S. soy.”

ASA worked with the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and members of the U.S. soy family to develop SSAP in 2013. The protocol helps to ensure that U.S. soy is produced following a strong set of conservation regulations combined with wide adoption of best management practices by a majority of U.S. farmers. The SSAP verifies that U.S. Soy is sustainably produced and aims to meet growing consumer demand for environmentally, socially and economically produced commodities. The protocol covers four key components including sound environmental objectives, social responsibility, conservation focused management practices and continuous improvement.

This crop year, over 3 million metric tons, equivalent to 110.22 million bushels, of U.S. Soy have been exported and certified under the SSAP program.

To learn more about SSAP, visit ussec.org.