The Amazon Soy Moratorium (ASM) has played a criticalrole in significantly reducing deforestation, promoting environmentally friendly agricultural practices, and providing definitive evidence that the traceability of sustainably produced soy, to the farm level, is feasible at scale. Before the agreement, soy production was expanding rapidly in the Amazon, destroying the rainforest.
The Moratorium was launched in 2006 and is a voluntaryagreement between the BrazilianAssociation of Vegetable Oil Industries (ABIOVE) and the National Association of Cereals Exporters (ANEC), supported by soy traders, civil society organizations, banks, and the Brazilian government, to halt soy-driven deforestation within the Amazon Biome. The traders and supply chain actors have agreed not to buy soy from farmers that deforest their land after the cut-off date of July 2008, use slave labor, or expand on (Indigenous) lands embargoed by IBAMA and the Federal Public Ministry. As of 2024, approximately 96% of the soy-producing areas in the Amazon comply with the Soy Moratorium and soy is no longer a driver of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest.
Today, however, the Amazon Soy Moratorium is at risk. Ifthe ASM ends or is severely compromised, some 250 thousandhectares of non-compliantsoy in the Amazon would become compliant, thereby undoing the hard work and commitment of all the soy farmers and agribusinesses who have complied with the agreement for the last 18 years. Moreover, it would open up some 1.1 million hectares of unprotected forest in the Amazon biome alone, putting it at risk of legal deforestation for soy. This could release almost 300 million tonnes of CO2eq. We are already living in a climate crisis, withscientists warning that critical tipping points for the Amazon biome will soon be reached, resultingin the permanent loss of the Amazon rainforest, as well as severely affecting farmer livelihoods and further growth in agricultural productivity. The demise of the ASM would also have a significant impact on the public perception of the soy industry, sustainable or not, in the market and its social license to operate.
We, the undersigned soy supply chain actors andstakeholders therefore strongly support the continuation of the Amazon Soy Moratorium and sourcing that aligns with the Moratorium's 2008 guidelines, ensuring no contribution to deforestation in the Amazon region.
We believe the Amazon Soy Moratorium is a world-leadingdemonstration of how sourcing soybeans and other forest-risk commodities can be produced deforestation-free whilst supporting farmer livelihood goals.
We hereby urge and support all stakeholders, includingthe Brazilian municipalities, States and Federal governments, soy producers, and traders, to uphold the Amazon Soy Moratorium and its governance mechanisms. We stand ready to engage in constructivedialogue and action to ensure the protection of the Amazon rainforest and the sustainable production and trade of soy. We believe that, together, we can drive positive change and contribute to a sustainable and prosperous future for all.
Yours sincerely,
Danish Alliance. for Responsible Soy
Donau Soja
Dutch Soy Platform
Norwegian Dialogue on Responsible Soy
The Swedish Platform on Risk Commodities
Soy Network Switzerland
UK Soy Manifesto.