Illinois Soybean Production: Sustainability from the Ground Up

Vision The Illinois Soybean Association strives to enable Illinois soybean producers to be the most knowledgeable and profitable soybean producers around the world.

Mission To ensure Illinois soy is the highest quality, most dependable, sustainable and competitive in the global marketplace.

Celebrating 50 Years

ISA Goals Maximum profitability and global competitive positioning for Illinois soybean producers. • Use 600 million bushels of Illinois soybeans by

2020. • Develop the highest quality soybean, soybean oil

and soybean meal products. • Implement best management practices to

maximize profitability. • Increase soybean production in a sustainable

manner to meet global market needs.

ISA Leadership Board of Directors

• 24 volunteer Illinois farmers

• 18 directors from districts throughout the state

• 6 at-large directors who represent the state as a whole

• Govern ISA use of checkoff and non-checkoff funds

• Each serves on production or marketing committee

Priority Target Areas • Animal Agriculture • Transportation • Yield, Composition & Profitability • Freedom to Operate • Organizational Excellence

Defining Sustainability?

Illinois Soybeans – A Global Success Story

Ben and Jerry’s Drilling ANWR

Fight Climate Change

Properly Inflate Tires Corn-Based Ethanol

Cellulosic Ethanol Solar Power Wind Power Nuclear

Go Vegan GMO Free

Organic

Recycle

Sustainable Forestry

Eat Local Foods Eco-Shaped Bottle

Not Drilling ANWR

Ride Bike to Work LEED Certification

ISO 14001

ISA Sustainability Definition Sustainable agriculture will meet today’s needs while helping future generations to meet their needs by: • Increasing productivity to meet future needs while

decreasing environmental impact. • Improving access to safe food and feed, and the production

of renewable fuel that reduces air quality impacts. • Improving the social and economic well-being of farmers

and the global community.

Eighty percent of Illinois soybean farmers support

working toward this definition.

Roundtable for Responsible Soy • South American group developed

production standards. – Resource conservation – Worker protection – Pesticide use

• Some European buyers mandate certification.

• Multiple certification standards emerging.

Emerging Standards

U.S. Sustainability Assurance Protocol PROTOCOL FOCUS AREAS • Biodiversity and High Carbon Stock Production • Production Practices • Public and Labor Health and Welfare • Continuous Improvement of Production Practices and

Environmental Protection AUDIT PROCEDURES • Producer Self-Audit • Third Party (USDA-FSA)

CERTIFICATION • Soy Export Sustainability; LLC provides shipment-specific

records and documents.

Sustainability Program Objective • Increase understanding of sustainable

production practices.

INFORMATION FARMERS Community

Meeting Farmer Needs • Challenge – Farmers lack information and proof from

trusted sources about current sustainability demands that are driven by the soybean marketplace. This includes certification standards and other documented social, economic and environmental practices.

• Opportunity – Farmers want additional information about the value proposition of continuing to implement sustainable best management practices, which maintain their market access and profitability.

Meeting Community Needs • Challenge – Key people are unaware of the many

existing sustainability gains in U.S. soybean production.

• Opportunity – Increase awareness of sustainability status as measured by recent on-farm producer assessments.

Five Focus Areas

• $40,000 to schools • 13,500 pounds of pork

to food banks • Ag in the Classroom • WISHH

Social Responsibility

Measureable progress:

• Efficient land use • Saving soil • Efficient energy use • Reduced tillage brings many

benefits • Protecting air quality • Producing renewable energy • Water protection

partnerships • Reducing water use • Pesticide compliance

Environmental Stewardship

Environmental Stewardship • Illinois soybean farmers have improved

environmental efficiency while increasing production about 50 percent.

Illinois Farmers Lead

Continuous Improvement

2016

2012

Growers as a group get better

National Sustainable Soybean Initiative Partnership: • Farmers take easy online

surveys. • University of Wisconsin

measures change over time. • Market sees that growers

support sustainable practices.

• Farm management – Inventory

and assessment; goal-setting; developing and refining goals; determining priorities

• Labor and worker relations – OSHA; safety training;

insurance and licenses • Good Business Practices

– Quality standards; identity-preserved soybean; research

Best Practices

Meeting Customer Needs

The Keystone Center

KIC 2025

Indian Creek Watershed Project

Discovery Farms

Biodiesel — America’s Advanced Biofuel

National Initiative for

Sustainable Agriculture

Conservation Technology Information Center

National Sustainable

Soybean Initiative (NSSI)

C-BMP Illinois Council on Best Management Practices

Sustainability Partnerships

Program Summary

• Illinois soybean farms: A sustainability benchmark.

• Soybeans deliver tremendous social, environmental and economic benefits.

• Illinois farmers have a measureable track record of environmental efficiency improvements.

• ISA’s five-part program recognizes success and encourages continued improvements.

• New marketplace demands are emerging. • Partnerships key to shared success.

FOOD, FUEL, HEALTH A COMMITMENT TO THE FUTURE