Socially responsible soy
Soy forms a small part of cow feed. FrieslandCampina has adopted active policies to contribute to socially responsible soy production and making the soy chain sustainable.
FrieslandCampina is a member of the international initiative referred to as the Round Table for Responsible Soy Association (RTRS).
We work together with the World Wildlife Fund, Solidaridad and Stichting Natuur & Milieu to make soy production sustainable in countries such as India and Brazil.
Together with Solidaridad, we are involved in a programme teaching the local farmers to grow soy in a sustainable way, which means no excess use of pesticides and herbicides, no soil depletion, a fair price and no destruction of valuable nature, thus supporting small family businesses in India and southern Brazil in making their production sustainable under the SOYPSI programme (Soy Producer Support Initiative).
Purchase of certificates
FrieslandCampina has undertaken to purchase certificates for soy produced under SOYPSI in quantities that are compatible with the milk produced by its member dairy farmers and intended for FrieslandCampina’s own brands in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. This is implemented through a book-and-claim system audited and assured by Solidaridad.
Furthermore, in collaboration with the animal feed industry (united in Nevedi) and foodstuffs producers Vion, Van Beek Group and Storteboom Group, the Dutch Sustainable Soy Initiative (IDS) was started up. Under the Initiative, field pilots are supported, helping the local farmers satisfy the RTRS criteria.
Together with other IDS partners, South American soy that does not originate from deforested areas is purchased. The quantities in question will continue to increase over the next few years.