U.S. Soy Leads By Example in Soy Sustainability

USB farmer-leader shares best management practices at World Soybean Research Conference

ST. LOUIS (April 18, 2013) - Speaking on a world stage about the excellent sustainability performance of U.S. soy, Jim Carroll recently confirmed what he and the soy checkoff already knew: global customers demand soybeans and soy products produced in a sustainable manner.

Carroll, a soy checkoff farmer-leader from Brinkley, Ark., recently brought his farm expertise to South Africa, where he told attendees at the World Soybean Research Conference about the practices he's implemented to decrease his farm's carbon footprint while maintaining high productivity. Carroll says the conversations he had at the conference reinforced his notion that soy customers place a high priority on sustainability.

"Several people from around the world came to me after the presentation was over and asked me for more information about sustainability," said Carroll. "Sustainability is constantly gaining importance, and I am very honored to have had the chance share my experiences."

Many U.S. soy customers consider sustainability an important issue. The U.S. soy industry received good marks in several reports and studies conducted by the checkoff measuring the sustainability performance of various aspects of U.S. soy production. This makes the practices of U.S. farmers a good example for soybean operations in other countries.

Sustainability was one of many topics discussed at the conference, which brings together members from every link of the soy value chain. Participants heard presentations and discussed the geographic differences in growing, processing, transporting and marketing soybeans, soy meal and soy oil.

Recent polls of U.S. soybean farmers show they do their part to increase sustainability on their operations. More than 50 percent of farmers say they made changes to improve their farms' sustainability performance.

Carroll said, "I spoke with several people from both Africa and Europe who were very interested in how I increased efficiency and conserved water while irrigating." Overall, in the last 30 years, U.S. farmers have reduced energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, while increasing irrigation efficiency per bushel of soybeans by more than 40 percent.

"For me, sustainability is just about trying to make reasonable, economic and environmental decisions for my farming operation," Carroll said. "If you are a farmer today, chances are you already work to improve your farm's sustainability, whether you know it or not. All farmers want to make the best decisions possible for their land and operation."

The 69 farmer-directors of USB oversee the investments of the soy checkoff to maximize profit opportunities for all U.S. soybean farmers. These volunteers invest and leverage checkoff funds to increase the value of U.S. soy meal and oil, to ensure U.S. soybean farmers and their customers have the freedom and infrastructure to operate, and to meet the needs of U.S. soy's customers. As stipulated in the federal Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soy checkoff.

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