

(Posted on 11/05/21)
In markets around the world, including Japan, sustainability is top of mind for consumers and end users. 73% of Japan’s imported soybeans come from the United States and as consumer demand for sustainability has grown in that country, it has become increasingly important for Japanese companies to envision and map out the supply chain for U.S. soybeans.
As sustainability demand ramps up, USSEC’s boots on the ground are staying ahead, partnering with the Japanese industry. Mitsuyuki Nishimura, USSEC country director – Japan, says a number of the organization’s activities address sustainability demand, including:
USSEC Japan is also focused on its largest sustainability project thus far, says Masako (Masi) Tateishi, USSEC director of human utilization for Japan. “The 2020/21 sustainability campaign builds awareness of sustainable U.S. Soy,” she explains. USSEC recently formed a strategic partnership with Japanese media group Nikkei to develop and disseminate the U.S. Soy sustainability story through various media. Tateishi adds that in the coming months (May – September), USSEC Japan will develop a TV program; offer cooking lessons using sustainable U.S. Soy targeting more than 2,000 students in about 100 schools; sponsor WOMAN EXPO 2021; and organize the Sustainable Soy Food Symposium inviting a local sustainability and environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) investment expert.
USSEC’s sustainability efforts in Japan, says Nishimura, are beginning to pay off with positive results. Two companies on USSEC’s top target list said they would commit to using the SSAP for the sourcing of soybeans. And in marketing year 20/21, SSAP-certified soy shipments to Japan represented nearly 100% of the country’s total U.S. soy imports as of April, according to Abby Rinne, USSEC director of sustainability.
USSEC Northeast Asia Regional Director Roz Leeck recently sat down with the website Sustainable Japan to talk about the sustainability of U.S. soybeans and soybean products. In a wide-ranging interview, Leeck discussed topics including the SSAP, transparency, regenerative agriculture, and the resiliency of the U.S. soy supply during COVID-19.“USSEC issues SSAP certificates, which verify that soybeans meet certain standards, and these efforts are one way to eliminate consumer anxiety,” said Leeck. “[Nearly all] of the soybeans that Japan imports from the United States are SSAP verified,” she continued. “Therefore, Japanese food companies can easily build transparency regarding sustainability simply by publishing the fact they are purchasing SSAP soybeans.”
BHP and global engineering, project management and professional services firm, Hatch, have signed an... Read more
Rio Tinto increased its spend with Australian suppliers to more than A$15.3 billion in 2022, as part... Read more
Trafigura Group Pte Ltd., a market leader in the global commodities industry, has announced the closing... Read more
Nexyst 360, an innovative grain transportation solution provider, has partnered with Nexxiot to digitalize... Read more
Cargill has announced the appointments of Joanne Knight as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Philippa... Read more
Trafigura, a market leader in the global commodities industry, has entered into a USD 500 million five... Read more
British Steel has announced proposals to close its coke ovens as part of its drive to overcome global... Read more
Global miner Rio Tinto and Japanese trader and business conglomerate Marubeni Corporation have agreed... Read more
Trafigura, a market leader in the global commodities industry, and Ecobat, the global leader in battery... Read more
Hydrogen is at the core of the green steel transition. Ensuring access to this scarce resource &ndash... Read more