2. U.S. Soybean Sustainability Assurance Protocol Brent Babb

3. What is Sustainability? The USDA defines sustainable agriculture as “an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having site specific application that will, over the long term: – Satisfy human food and fiber needs; – Enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agricultural economy depends; – Make the most efficient use of non-renewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls; – Sustain the economic viability of farm operations; and – Enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole.

4. Sustainability Update Major Trends for Soy – EU sustainable regulations only on fuel – not yet food or feed Renewable Energy Directive (RED) Several certification schemes are established with governmental approval SES withdrew Dutch RED application – Commercial industry driving sustainability “schemes” globally Unilever, FEFAC, Dutch Feed Association Food retailers creating own scheme Hope to relieve pressure of biotech issue – Feed Industry over reliance on Round Table Responsible Soy (RTRS) Supply is limited with very few soy producers involved RTRS certifying coops in India and China – U.S. soy industry most sustainable Developed “U.S. Soybean Sustainability Protocol”

5. U.S. Soy Sustainability Is Real Since 1980 US soy production increased 96% using 8% less energy USDA-NRCS employs over 9,000 people in working in all 50 states USDA committed over $6.5 billion in conservation funding Soy part of a diverse crop rotation produced on 23% cropland Greenhouse gas emissions decreased 41% per metric ton of U.S. soybean production since 1980

6. U.S. Soy Sustainability Is Real 10% of U.S. cropland is taken out of production to protect sensitive areas 11.9 million hectares set aside to protect environment in CRP 10.1 million hectares of production land enrolled in CSP

7. Protocol - Four Directives with Control Measures & Regulations Biodiversity and High Carbon Stock – Wetland, grassland, forest, biodiversity Production Practices – Conservation tillage, crop rotation Public and Labor Health and Welfare – EPA, EEO, OSHA Continuous Improvement – CRP, Conservation programs, precision farming

8. U.S. Soybean Sustainability Assurance Protocol Builds on U.S. Soy Pledge and Dutch application for RED certification Based on U.S. national system of conservation laws Includes Best Production Practices by 275,000+ U.S. soybean producers Aggregate approach Quantifiable results Third party audit and certification No on-farm audits & no traceability Unilever benchmarking Protocol

9. Protocol Measurement, Audit, Certification Annual measurement system of environmental impacts – Life Cycle Analysis, Field To Market reports – Other Sustainability Schemes do not provide measurement Audits includes producer self- audit and independent third party audit by USDA-FSA of minimum of five percent of producers participating in Farm Program

10. Energy per Soybean Bushel Energy use decreased 54% from 1987 to 2008

11. Soil loss decreased 37% per acre from 1987 to 2008

13. NSSI The National Soybean Sustainability Initiative how this tool achieves and promotes grower-led sustainable soybean production Deana Knuteson, Shawn Conley, AJ Bussan, and Jeff Wyman: University of Wisconsin-Madison

14. WHY NSSI Producer-driven – Not top down, regulatory or market pushed approach Complementary to other sustainability programs, not redundant – Non competitive, yet complimentary Streamline sustainability efforts with customer expectations – Lets tell them how we can do it Communications Conduit – Discuss gains already achieved and changes overtime

16. Soybean Sustainability Tool  Protocol written to harmonize standards questions from other tools  As defined from our review of international and national standards  Worked with UW-Extension Specialists to create research based, best management practices for Midwest region  Individual specialists evaluated the questions to align them with current outcomes based decision tools  All fertility and soil management questions were derived from Snap Plus, which incorporates soil loss predictions from RUSLE2 and nutrient management planning requirements for the state of Wisconsin

17. Soybean Sustainability Tool - Catgories Cash Grain Whole Farm – Farm Production and Management Decision – Soil and Water Quality (soil, fertility, water, irrigation) – Scouting – Information and Production – Pesticide and Fertilizer Handling and Worker Saefty – Pest Management – Resistance Management – Ecosystem Restoration- Natural Community – Chain of Custody – Farm Operations and Sustainability (Economics, Human Resources, Energy/Recycling, Community Outreach)

18. Soybean Sustainability Tool - Catgories Soybean Specific – Soybean Production and Management – Weed Management – Insect Management – Disease Management

19. Soybean Sustainability Tool Anonymous – can’t be track to specific grower – We do ask for state and county Not intimidating to grower No scoring Does NOT ask for specific field records – No pesticide applications – No fertility applications – No tillage – No specific energy or fuel requirements DOES ask to choose practices which can or have been implemented to affect change Can be printed off so grower maintains their data for comparisons overtime

20. Examples

21. How NSSI Sustainable? Encourage continual improvement Use as educational tool Work in conjunction with local “experts” and research- based faculty Give credibility to current ag programs and to prioritize new research Document improvements already made – Look back at past 5-10 years and use this as public and market tool Consolidate sustainability documentation and surveys Document economic sustainability by determining key drivers and cost of changes and implementation