SUSTAINABILITY INFORMATION FOR PRODUCERS
Committed to sustainable production
The Sustainable Canadian Soy program is a voluntary program for Canadian soybean growers, grain handlers and exporters.
The program utilizes the Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA), a globally recognized whole farm sustainability benchmarking and assessment program.
WHY CANADIAN SOYBEAN PRODUCERS ARE PARTICIPATING
Drive market opportunities
The Sustainable Canadian Soy program is market driven and will ensure continued access to premium markets as well as create new market opportunities for the soybean value chain.
Meet customer demand
Customers of Canadian value-added soybeans have asked for a verifiable sustainable program, and this program helps Canada’s soybean value chain to compete for market share in North American and global markets.
Demonstrate sustainable practices
This program offers farmers an opportunity to demonstrate to the entire value chain how they have advanced on-farm sustainable practices and the benefits of these practices to the environment, customers and their own farms.
Measure progress
Through the FSA and the sustainability benchmarking and assessment, farmers can assess their own soybean production methods, gain access to sustainability resources, and identify progress and opportunities to continuously improve the sustainability of their farms.
Improve market competitiveness
Canadian soybean producers have increased opportunities to compete with other soybean producing regions that have also adopted sustainability programs, including Brazil, Argentina and the United States.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
Participation in the Sustainable Canadian Soy program is voluntary and is managed by Canadian soybean handlers and exporters, from the initial self-assessment process through continuous improvement planning.
- Identity Preserved (IP) and food grade soybean growers interested in participating in the program can sign up with their exporter or grain handler. Contact your exporter or grain handler to see if they are participating and looking to add growers to the sustainability program. Demand for soybeans from the Sustainable Canadian Soy program is currently focused on food grade soybeans.
- Once enrolled in the program, the first step will be completing the Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA), an on-farm sustainability questionnaire about economic viability, social responsibility, and environmental stewardship. Producers can expect to answer questions about their soil management, crop protection products and practices, waste management, and nutrient management, among others. Through this process, producers complete an initial self-assessment process along with continuous improvement planning.
- An accredited third-party verification body will perform on-farm audits for a sample of growers, to ensure growers are implementing the practices they attest to in the FSA. Once verified, FSA letters of attestation are issued that allow suppliers and buyers of Canadian soybeans to make sustainability claims with confidence.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR CANADIAN SOYBEAN GROWERS
There is no additional cost to Canadian soybean producers to participate in the program. Through the program, producers may realize direct and indirect financial benefits, like expanded market opportunities for their soybeans or increased demand.
Participation in the Sustainable Canadian Soy program is unrelated to other carbon market or government run programs such as the On-Farm Climate Action Fund. To our knowledge, participation in the program does not prevent a producer from participating or benefiting from programs that reward specific practices that reduce or prevent emissions or produce other environmental outcomes. Producers should check the eligibility requirements of the other sustainability programs and markets they participate in to confirm.
HOW THE CANADIAN SOY PROGRAM WAS DEVELOPED
Led by Soy Canada, the program was developed with extensive farmer and industry-wide consultation. Throughout the process, the entire Canadian soybean value chain was consulted, including grower and grain associations. In addition, focussed consultations with 25 different organizations, including member and non-member grain handlers and processors were conducted.
Through the FSA, the Sustainable Canadian Soy program prioritizes alignment of its practices with global harmonized standards accepted by buyers who value sustainability. This demonstrates the Canadian soy industry’s commitment to a sustainable future. FSA verification provides a consistent system to improve and validate on-farm sustainability in supply chains.
