Soy is an important raw material in the production of feed. In several places in the world, cultivation can have negative consequences for people and the environment. Lantmännen supports and buys responsibly produced soy.

Soy is the most widely used protein raw material in feed production. It is a concentrated raw material with a good composition for most animals, an effective feed that is an important part of Swedish farmers' ability to cope with competition from imported food. Domestic protein raw materials from, for example, rapeseed, peas and field beans do not currently cover the need for feed protein in Sweden and have difficulty competing in terms of price with imported soy.

In many parts of the world, the expansion of soy cultivation is taking place at the expense of savannah areas and biodiversity, displacing indigenous peoples. A large part of the world's soy production takes place in Brazil and other countries in South America, where valuable habitats are exploited to create new arable areas. Other common problems in soy production are poor working conditions for farmers, and the use of illegal pesticides.

Active work on several fronts 

The challenges surrounding the production and use of imported soy have long been a priority issue for Lantmännen. For several years, we have been actively working on several fronts.

Lantmännen is a major player in the Swedish feed market and buys a total of about 110,000 tonnes of soy per year. At the same time, we are a relatively small player globally, Lantmännen buys less than 0.5 percent of the soy produced in Brazil. We are therefore dependent on dialogue and collaboration with other players in the industry, nationally and internationally, in order to be able to influence and bring about change. 

100% certified soy

Since 2010, there has been a standard and certification for responsibly produced soy, developed in the international Round Table for Responsible Soy (RTRS) process. The criteria include, among other things, the protection of rainforest areas, pesticides and working conditions for the growers.

ProTerra is another organization that, like RTRS, certifies responsible soy production according to the Basel Criteria for Responsible Soy.  

Since 2005, we have been members of RTRS and were among the first companies in the world to start sourcing certificates from responsibly produced soy when it came onto the market. Since 2015, Lantmännen only buys soy that is certified according to RTRS or ProTerra, alternatively organically produced or from traceable cultivation areas that have been assessed by the Swedish Platform for Risk Crops to meet the criteria for responsible production with verification by an independent third party.

Swedish Platform for Risk Crops

Since 2014, Lantmännen, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and around 30 other Swedish companies and organisations have been working to increase the proportion of responsibly grown soy used by the Swedish food sector. The agreement means that 100 percent of the soy used in food from the signatory companies will be responsibly produced, from 2015. This can be fulfilled either through the purchase of RTRS certificates (Round Table on Responsible Soy), through physically certified soy according to ProTerra's criteria or through KRAV-certified soy. It can also be from traceable cultivation area that has been assessed by the Swedish Platform for Risk Crops to meet the criteria for responsible production with verification by independent third parties, such as soy from certain geographical areas in Canada.

Investment in alternative protein crops

We are also working on evaluating and developing alternative protein sources. At present, Agrodrank, a by-product of ethanol production, is the main alternative. Lantmännen Biorefineries produces 175,000 tonnes of protein feed annually that can replace over 100,000 tonnes of soya. We are working on further developing this product to be able to fully exploit its potential. Lantmännen also sells protein crops, such as peas, field beans and oilseeds, to farmers so that they can grow protein feed on their own farms.

Locally produced feed without soy

In Lantmännen's feed range, we offer locally produced feed made from Swedish and European raw materials, completely without soy protein or palm oil products, for example under the Nötfor Nära range.