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