Transcript Slide 1

United Soybean Board
Sustainability Initiative
Update
Eric Niemann– Soybean farmer
and Immediate Past Chairman
of the United State Soybean
Board and Director on Soybean
Export Council
June 16, 2008
Keystone Definition
Sustainable agriculture will meet the needs of the present
while improving the ability of future generations to meet their
own needs by:
Increasing productivity to meet future nutritional and fiber needs
while decreasing impacts on the environment
Improving human health through access to safe, nutritious food
Improving the social and economic well being of agricultural
communities
Sampling of Steering Committee
Members
Goals of U.S. Soybean Industry
Sustainability Effort
Create common
measurements
Stakeholder in
shaping
sustainable
initiatives
Definition of
sustainability
that works for
US soy
Focus of the Soybean Industry and
United Soybean Board
Understand
definition and its
impact on U.S.
soybean industry
Communicate
involvement to
board
Communicate and
motivate
producers
Value diversity and
strength of
membership
Create a common
vision and
inspiration to work
together
Recognize that
grower
participation is
vital
Use best practices
and vision to
protect freedom to
operate
Objectives of U.S. Soybean Industry
Sustainability Efforts
Promote more informed decisions up and down the supply chain
Establish science based mechanisms for assessing baselines and progress
Establish a unique shared platform, affiliation, and common purpose through an
identity or brand (in the soft sense) to be used by participating entities
Continual improvements in sustainability measures by the U.S. soy industry
Set targets and document improved performance over time
Objectives of U.S. Soybean Industry
Sustainability Efforts
Create social license and a credible foundation for U.S. soy to be a major reliable
supplier to the food companies
Demonstrate measurable impacts on what we care about (issues vs productivity)
Outcome focused and measured not based on production practices or value
judgments
Be at table to shape sustainable initiatives that reward productive and innovation
and good environmental stewardship
Approach of U.S. Soybean
Sustainability Efforts
Use the Keystone umbrella using their definition and the 5 areas/index’s as a
starting point.
Understand impacts on environment
Determine how index will be used
Engage in step like process to compile the facts (similar to NCGA)
Create segmented communications program
Set a goal for continual improvement in sustainability from the soybean
perspective
Thank You