Sustainable U.S. Soy takes root in Japan

(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:

• The U.S. Soy Sustainability Ambassador Award, a collaborative event with the natto and tofu industries. The prize for Japan's No. 1 tofu and natto made with sustainable U.S. Soy is awarded at this event. USSEC also provides winners with additional recognition.
• Fostering corporate social responsibility (CSR) and procurement for Japanese food companies by hosting visits from Japanese sustainability teams to the United States, including tours of U.S. soybean farms, state offices, universities, and the National Resources Conservation Services (NRCS).
• USSEC Japan worked with the Tokyo Olympic Committee, resulting in the Olympic committee’s approval of the U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP) as a part of their sustainable sourcing code for the upcoming Olympic Games.

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.”

Latest News

Bauxite and aluminium businesses deliver stable Rio Tinto results

Bauxite production of 13.4 million tonnes was 11% higher than the first quarter of 2023 for Rio Tinto... Read more

Rio Tinto spends more than A$16.1 billion with Australian suppliers

Rio Tinto increased its spend with suppliers and local businesses in Australia to more than A$16.1 billion... Read more

Cargill increases its renewable energy capacity by more than 40%

Cargill has reported increasing its contracted renewable energy capacity by 42% after signing five new... Read more

Agreement to set up KEZAD steel recycling and production facility

The UAE’s largest operator of integrated and purpose-built economic zones, Khalifa Economic Zones... Read more

Senate legislation includes phosphate and potash as critical minerals

The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) has praised the U.S. Senate for introducing bipartisan legislation to... Read more

Agribusiness expert’s legacy and optimism for GrainCorp’s future

Farmer, Company Director and long-standing member of the GrainCorp Board of Directors, Dan Mangelsdorf... Read more

Research offers Rotterdam guidelines for raw material transition

Different product processes, non-fossil raw materials and rare materials are crucial for a CO2-neutral... Read more

Bunge Chevron Ag Renewables to build Louisiana processing plant

Bunge and Chevron have announced approval of a final investment decision for their joint venture Bunge... Read more

Funding to decarbonise iron ore processing in Labrador West

The Government of Canada HAS awarded C$18.1 million from its Low Carbon Economy Fund to Rio Tinto&rsquo... Read more

Australia’s biggest renewables deal to repower Gladstone aluminium operations

Rio Tinto has signed Australia’s largest renewable power purchase agreement (PPA) to date to supply... Read more