US soybean group expands sustainability efforts as global demand evolves

The largest US soy promotion organization aims to expand its sustainable soy verification program to emphasize sustainable practices in production processes as a way to diversify and find new markets.

According to Luis Bustamante, Regional Sustainability & Soy Excellence Center Lead for the Americas for the US Soybean Export Council, the aim of USSEC's sustainability programs is to achieve 80% of US soy production verified as sustainable by year's end, amid growing concerns about environmental issues and supply chain resilience.

The initiative to provide the Sustainable US Soy packaging label has been implemented by the US Soybean Export Council for the past 14 years, Bustamante said, with the aim of showcasing the low-carbon footprint, production practices, and public and labor health and welfare matters related to products containing US soybeans.

The guidelines published by USSEC state that whole soybean products with the US sustainable soy label must contain at least 90% sustainable US soy, and food and animal feed products at least 60%.

"US soybeans dry in the field pretty much. They're not wood-burnt," USSEC's Vice Chair Roberta Simpson-Dolbeare told Platts in an interview. "There's less damage [to the beans]. There's also lower deforestation compared to other origins."

According to the Council, as of September 2026, nearly 1,000 products worldwide were commercialized with the label, and more than 150 companies participate in the program, with at least 30% of those located in the Americas.

The program is meant to be expanded in the coming months, Bustamante said.

"We are deploying a Brand Lab to enable companies to execute effective marketing and communications and to craft a solid narrative to reach their customers," he said. "We are also currently finalizing recruitment for sustainability professional certification courses in partnership with the Global Reporting Initiative, with whom we have already trained more than 50 professionals in the region."

To some Latin American sources, sustainability and carbon footprint are increasingly discussed topics among participants, especially in the regional market.

"We try to be responsible to the environment, to society, to shareholders and all those groups are fundamental to us," Sara Patricia Bonilla, CEO of the Colombian soybean meal importer Piscicola New York SA, told Platts. "But trying to have that certified is very complex with commodities because everything has different origins."

"Consumers in Colombia are starting to observe that [sustainability] topic," Juan Esteban Mejia, commercial manager for soybean meal importer Aves Emaus S.A.S., said. "We're in countries of low purchasing power, so it's not as fast as in other countries, but we're slowly getting there."

The general manager of Agroindustrial Zeledón Maffio S.A., Roberto Zeledón, from Costa Rica agreed: "We expect customers to demand it."

Efforts to promote sustainability and good practices in the production of US soy have increased among US groups in recent years, as a way to diversify amid subdued trade with the world's largest soybean importer.

According to data from the US Census Bureau compiled by S&P Global Energy, from September to July of the 2022-23 marketing year, the US exported approximately 31.009 million mt of soybeans to China, followed by 24.669 million mt during the same period of the 2023-24 marketing year. During September-July of 2024-25, the number dropped to 22.658 million mt, falling further during 2025-26 to 12.356 million mt.

As a result of political tensions, China imposed tariffs on US soybeans of nearly 13%, which took effect in March 2025, leading to a decline in exports to that country, sources say.

"The sustainability topic is something that we have to our advantage," USSEC's regional market lead for the Americas Leo Chapula told Platts. "I believe that both industry and customers understand the implications and consequences of using raw materials, such as soy from other origins, that result from land-use change. And the good practices associated with soy cultivation here in the US give us a competitive advantage."

US prices remained above Brazilian levels during most of H1 2026, maintaining a $50/metric ton gap on several days.

The US-Brazil price order seen during H1 2026 flipped in June, with SOYBEX FOB New Orleans dropping below SOYBEX FOB Santos despite surging demand from China for US soybeans. On Sept. 11, Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, assessed SOYBEX FOB New Orleans for October shipment at $522.31/metric ton, while Brazil's SOYBEX FOB Santos was assessed at $532.99/mt.

Platts is part of S&P Global Energy.