Brazil is the second largest soy producer in the world, after the United States.This massive industry is happening at the expense of Brazil’s forests and savannas. Hence, social and environmental strategies need to be part of the business plan.
In 2003, WWF’s Forest Conversion Initiative (now WWF Forest Conversion Programme) began addressing the severe environmental impacts of soy plantations in Brazil, with a focus on 3 key ecoregions - the Amazon
, the Atlantic Forest
and the Cerrado
(Brazilian savannas). WWF is doing this by documenting these impacts in case studies done in the 3 ecoregions.
As part of this effort, WWF’s Trade and Environment programme has focused on the expansion of soy plantations in the Cerrado region. This involves trying to influence the World Trade Organisation
(WTO), and international trade and investment flows more generally.
At the local level...
WWF is also working with small farmers to identify how the negative environmental impacts of soy production can be reduced. Simultaneously, market links with European buyers are being established for soy produced in a way that does not harm the environment.
At the global level, WWF, companies, NGOs, and banks have initiated the international Round Table on Responsible Soy
, to jointly develop solutions for responsible soy production. The objective is to promote economically viable, socially equitable and environmentally responsible production and use of soy.