Enabling sustainable production and consumption.

A rising population, changing climate and growing consumer consciousness is adding new pressures and greater demand for sustainable nutrition and energy. Your customers are demanding more and we’re here to help you deliver.

Did you know, U.S. Soy has the lowest carbon footprint compared with soy of other origins?

U.S. Soy farmers grow and develop sustainable solutions to today’s biggest problems. We are leading the way by producing more while using fewer resources, implementing farming practices that reduce carbon footprint, and helping to preserve forestland.

Agriculture plays an essential role in advancing the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially #SDG2 Zero Hunger, and also enabled by #SDG6 Clean Water and Sanitation, #SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production, #SDG13 Climate Action, #SDG15 Life on Land, and #SDG17 Partnerships.

U.S. Soy Farmers 2030 Sustainability Goals

  • Reduce the land use impact of U.S. Soy by 10% (calculated as planted acres per bushel)
  • Reduce soil erosion in U.S. Soy production by 25% (calculated as tons of soil loss per acre)
  • Reduce energy use in U.S. Soy production by 10% (calculated as BTUs per bushel)
  • Reduce greenhouse gas  emissions generated in U.S. Soy production by 5% (calculated as pounds of CO₂ equivalent per bushel)

U.S. Soy Farmers Sustainability Actions

Since 1980, U.S. Soy farmers have:

  • Reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per bushel by 42%
  • Improved irrigation water use efficiency by 61%
  • Increased land use efficiency by 47%
  • Improved energy use efficiency by 45%
  • Improved soil conservation by 35%
  • Increased soy production by 130%

U.S. Soybean Producers’ Commitment to Sustainability

Between 1997 and 2017, U.S. forest land Increased by 742,000 hectares while cropland decreased by 3.6 million hectares. But we won’t stop there. U.S. Soy farmers’ ongoing commitment to sustainability enables you to produce food, feed, energy and other products to support a healthy society, even as we preserve the planet for future generations.

See how U.S. Soy’s sustainability actions can enable your commercial and sustainability goals.

How U.S. Soy Enables You to Advance the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals

SSAP Transferable Certificate Explainer Video

U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP)

Get a U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP) transferable certificate to address your customer requests for documented and verified sustainable soy. The SSAP verifies that soybeans and soy products produced in the United States are compliant with a system of sustainability and conservation laws and regulations and farmer participation in the U.S. Farm Program. SSAP is one of the largest sustainability verification programs in the agriculture industry and has proven to be a highly reliable measure of U.S. Soy farmers’ commitment in areas like biodiversity, sustainable production practices, public and labor health, and continuous improvement of farming practices.

Click here for a U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol Certificate

Sustainable U.S. Soy Label

The Sustainable U.S. Soy label is now on about 1000+ product packs forming an important part of the participating companies’ commitments to advancing the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. U.S. Soy has the lowest carbon footprint compared with soy of other origins, with U.S. Soy farmers fully committed to advancing U.N. Sustainable Development Goal 2 – Zero Hunger.

Contact Your USSEC Representative

Sustainable U.S. Soy Label

Click here to connect with your local USSEC representative for your business solutions.

Carbon Footprint

U.S. Soy: A Better Environmental Footprint (General Use)

Soybeans are an important source of protein for feed and food products, and global demand is rising.

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Europe

Soybeans are an important source of protein for feed and food products, and global demand is rising. An efficient crop, soybeans need relatively few inputs as they fix nitrogen from the atmosphere.

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Oil & Other Proteins

Soybeans and Soybean Oil Sustainability: U.S. Compared to Argentina and Brazil

US soybean oil offers a more sustainable and environmentally friendly solution to growing demand compared to alternative options.

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U.S. Soybean Oil Sustainability Compared to Other Vegetable Oils

US soybean oil offers a more sustainable and environmentally friendly option to meet increasing global demand, especially when compared to other soybean oils.

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U.S. Soybean Sustainability Compared to Other Plant Proteins

U.S. soybeans offer a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution to meet the growing global protein demand, especially when compared to other plant protein sources.

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Research

U.S. Soybean Farmer Social Sustainability Insights

U.S. soybean farmers are committed to caring for the land and contributing to their communities. Learn more about how U.S. soybean farmers are addressing social and environmental sustainability on their farms and in their communities in the U.S. Soy Social Sustainability Survey.

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U.S. Crop Production Preserves Forestland

Since 1907, the amount of forestland in the United States has remained relatively stable.1 In fact, it actually increased by 742,000 hectares between 1997 and 2017, while cropland usage declined during the same period.

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Land Use Change

Modern tools and practices like climate-smart agriculture, enhanced seeds, moisture sensors, smart irrigation, autonomous and GPS-enabled tractors, drones, and satellite imagery help U.S. Soy growers produce more soy from the same amount of land, even as they reduce use of natural resources.

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U.S. Soy Supports U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

By following the SSAP and other best management practices, U.S. Soy farmers are contributing to progress toward many of the 17 SDGs.

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U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP)

SSAP Annual Report

In this report, you’ll find an account of the U.S. Soy industry’s efforts over the past year to produce, verify and deliver sustainable U.S. Soy to the world.

Carbon Footprint Analysis

U.S. Soy exporters and customers can request the carbon footprint values of their purchase under an SSAP certificate. Based on the GFLI database, this information allows U.S. Soy buyers to calculate their environmental impact for scope 3 emissions reporting.

SSAP Sustainability Highlights

U.S. Soy is Sustainable. Verified by protocol, carbon footprint data, and stable forests.

SSAP One Pager

The SSAP provides credible data and information to provide buyers of U.S. Soy confidence that the product they are purchasing is produced in a sustainable manner.

SSAP Transferable Certificates

With SSAP transferable certificates, exporters of U.S. Soy can now transfer certificates to their international customers. And those international customers can transfer certificates as they sell SSAP verified soy through the value chain.

U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP)

Get a U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP) transferable certificate to address your customer requests for documented and verified sustainable soy.

Sustainable U.S. Soy Label

Sustainable U.S. Soy is verified by a third party that the soy was produced sustainably in the United States. Companies can demonstrate a commitment to sourcing sustainable U.S. Soy to their customers by placing a unique label on their packaging.

Sustainability Practices

Carbon Sequestration One Pager

Like the rest of the world, the United States is trying to combat climate change by evaluating greenhouse gas reduction opportunities. U.S. soybean producers are actively contributing to this process.

Conservation Tillage One Pager

Conservation tillage techniques help U.S. soybean producers produce more soybeans using less land while also improving soil health and fertility.

Cover Crops One Pager

Cover crops are an agricultural practice that is not planted for harvest, but rather serves to protect and improve the soil. This method prevents erosion, improves soil health, and increases water retention capacity.

Crop Protection One Pager

U.S. soybean producers protect their crops by using experience, knowledge and approved methods to control weeds, pests and diseases.

Pollinators One Pager

U.S. soybean producers understand the economic and ecological importance of pollinating insects. Approximately 75% of the world’s agriculture depends on pollination, and producers are taking the necessary precautions to ensure this process continues.

Precision One Pager

U.S. soybean producers are investing in technologies that increase yields, reduce costs and support sustainable production. These innovations include targeted precision agriculture practices.

Sustainable Improvements

U.S. soybean producers are taking a leading role in conservation, with many producers actively participating in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) environmental sustainability programs.

Water Quality One Pager

Water is a fundamental component of every agricultural production system, and proper water management is critical to optimize use and protect water resources.

American Agricultural Landscape

Agriculture is woven into the history of North America. For thousands of years, it has provided food security and commerce for the continent’s inhabitants. Native Americans were farming North America for over 5,000 years prior to European settlement.

Sustainability News

U.S. Soy and Cropland

U.S. Soy’s Well-Earned Reputation for Sustainability

U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP) Certificates Can Now Be Transferred

U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP) secures European FEFAC Soy Sourcing Guidelines 2021 Certification

U.S. Soy Achieves Key Benchmark Certifying Sustainable, Responsible Production for Customers Across the European Union