The overall goal of the Soy Producer Support Initiative (SOYPSI) is to add value to the soy supply chain by supporting small scale farmers and farm workers in the soy sector worldwide and preparing them for certification. SOYPSI aims to consolidate efforts with existing players in the soy sector to reach consensus on certifiable and sustainable soy production. It will support the Criteria Development Process on responsible soy production, processing and trading, and make the criteria operational for producers and processing companies involved.
What is SOYPSI?
SOYPSI is a pilot project, targeting 8,000 farmers and 25,000 farm workers employed by larger farmers. SOYPSI will be carried out in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and India. In each targeted country, local staff will be responsible for on-the-ground producer support. On a broader level, SOYPSI will implement awareness raising campaigns to address producers, traders, buyers, and consumers. Participants in the SOYPSI program must be committed to implement their businesses in a sustainable and economically viable environment, or seek to be certified. They can take advantage of co-funded SOYPSI pilot activities, which work towards certification. Such activities might include:
- Training of farmers in compliance issues, sales/negotiation techniques, and practicing improved production techniques
- Designing supportive measures, including Better Management Practices (BMP) on farm, assistance in compliance with environmental and social standards, and development of business and financing tools for producers
- Identifying producers of soy ready to receive support from SOYPSI in developing certifiable standards
Who form SOYPSI?
- Roundtable on Responsible Soy (RTRS) https://www.responsiblesoy.org
- Solidaridad https://www.solidaridadnetwork.org
- World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) https://www.wwf.org
Why participate?
Participants will have the opportunity to:
- Establish direct work relations with farmers and farm workers in producing countries
- Obtain certification for the chain of custody involved
- Ensure that the supply of soy from participating farmers can be certified against commonly adopted social and environmental criteria
- Have access to co-funding for certification support and for BMP pilots in a public-private partnership format
Projects:
Brazil
APDC- Associação de Plantio Direto no Cerrado
APDC assists Brazilian soybean farmers in the Cerrado area in Central Brazil to comply with RTRS standards through technical management actions and understanding of social and environmental criteria.
https://www.apdc.com.br
Gebana
The project aims to support 1.100 small scale family soy farmers in Paraná State in Brazil towards certification of 35.000 tonnes of soy according to RTRS. In addition, organic farming techniques are introduced, thereby reducing the environmental impact.
Read more: Training and certifying soy family farmers.
https://www.gebana.com
India
India Grameen Services / Bhartiya Samrudhhi Finance LTD BASIX
IGS/BASIX provides technical and organisational support to 50 producer groups, covering a total of 10.000 farm households in five districts in Madhya Pradesh, India, to work towards RTRS certification.
https://www.basixindia.com
Action for Social Advancement (ASA)
ASA provides technical and organisational support to soy producer groups, covering a total of 10.700 farm households and 500 farm workers in five districts in Madhya Pradesh, India, to improve production and work towards RTRS certification.
https://www.asaindia.org/
Haritika / Samarth Kisan producers Company Pvt.Ltd.
The project aims to support over 6.000 small scale farm households in Madhya Pradesh India, by organizing them in the Samarth Kisan and Khujner Companies, to join the certified and sustainable soy value chain.
Read more: 20% higher soy yields for Samarth Kisan.
https://samarthkisan.org