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On
behalf of the RTRS, it is our pleasure to distribute the latest
Responsible Soy Newsletter to you. The goal of the Roundtable on
Responsible Soy Association (RTRS) is to build up a global and
participatory process that promotes economically viable, socially
equitable and environmentally sustainable production of soy.
RTRS
has advanced considerably in the last months. During the middle of the
year we have received more than 70 nominations for the Principles,
Criteria and Verification Development working group. The final choice
of group composition has not been an easy one, but the Executive Board
is confident that a balanced group which represents the range of actors
in the soy production chain, and the social and environmental interests
related to soy production and processing has been selected. The first
successful DG meeting has already taken place last October in Brazil.
The
Development Group has developed outline document of draft Principles
and Criteria, which is currently out for public consultation. The
closing date for comments is December 22.
At the same time, our new RTRS Executive Secretariat Mr. Miguel Hernández (miguel@responsiblesoy.org) has started working mid October. In this newsletter an introduction word is included. Also, Mr. Ben Zeehandelaar (ben@responsiblesoy.org)
strengthens the capacity of the RTRS Secretariat since September this
year. The next Executive Board meeting in November this year in Buenos
Aires will be a good opportunity to discuss, together with the board,
the upcoming activities and objectives of RTRS.
RTRS
welcomes any suggestions or news related to the responsible production
of soy you may wish to share with us or communicate to the wide range
of stakeholders that are currently participating in the RTRS. Please
contact Mrs. Jinke van Dam at jinke@responsiblesoy.org, for further news or to subscribe to this newsletter.
Kind regards, RTRS Secretariat |
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Introduction from Miguel Hernández, new RTRS Executive Secretary
Dear Members of the RTRS:
I would like to take this space to introduce myself as the Executive
Secretary of the RTRS.My name is Miguel Hernández and I am from
Nicaragua, the country from where I started to work with the RTRS since
October 18th. I am an agricultural engineer graduated from El Zamorano
in Honduras; also I have a MBA from INCAE Business School located in
Costa Rica. During my studies I specialized in the Sustainable
Development Sector.
More info
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First meeting held of Development Group in Mato Grosso, Brazil
The
Principles, Criteria, and Development Group that was formed from 23
individuals had his first meeting in Mato Grosso, Brazil, in October
2007. The individuals are from different countries such as Argentina,
Belgium, Brazil, China, Holland, India and USA. The members are
organized into constituencies: Producers, Industry/Trade/Finance, and
Civil Society (social and environmental interests). For a full list of
members and their contact details see www.responsiblesoy.org.
More info
Document released for public consultation
As an output of their first meeting the Development Group have released an outline document of draft Principles and Criteria,
on which they are inviting comments. Input is sought to help
direct the Development Group in defining criteria appropriate for the
various sectors of the soy chain, including, but not limited to: input
and service suppliers, producers, processors, soy users, traders,
financiers, retailers. For more details, see www.responsiblesoy.org. The closing date for comment on the draft document is December 22.
The Development Group will meet again in February 2008 in Argentina,
where they will outline the key elements of a verification system and
produce a more detailed set of criteria for defining responsible soy.
General Assembly and 3rd Roundtable RTRS in April 2008
The next General Assembly and Roundtable of the RTRS Association will take place on 24 and 25 April 2008
in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Roundtable will offer the possibility
to a wide range of stakeholders to exchange views and share ideas about
the economic, social and environmental aspects of soy production.
Upcoming Board meeting in November 2007 in Buenos Aires
The Executive Board of the RTRS will meet from November 26 to 28 in
Buenos Aires, Argentina. Main agenda items on the agenda in the first 2
days are the progress of the Principles, Criteria and Verificiation
Development Group and the preparation of the Roundtable Conference in
April 2008. The third day will be largely dedicated to communication
and the development of outreach activities. An optional field visit is
organized on November 29 which provides the board members the
opportunity to understand better the soy value chain in Argentina.
RTRS participates in Bolivia Event
Mrs. Jinke van Dam represented the RTRS at the ‘III Encuentro
Internacional de Pequeños Productores de Soya a La Sociedad Civil’ from
18-20 July in Santa Cruz, Bolvia. In this meeting, organized by
Probioma, delegations from small producers coming from Bolivia, Brazil,
Paraguay, Uruguay, and Venezuela shared their experiences and reflected
on current developments.
Mrs.
van Dam had the opportunity to give a presentation to the
representatives to inform them about the objectives and current
developments of the Roundtable. Several of the presentations included
an analysis of the context of soy in Latin America and the development
of criteria for responsible soy. Under the representatives, consensus
was reached regarding the social and environmental impacts that are
being generated by the agro-export model implemented by agribusinesses.
More information is available at the RTRS Secretariat or on www.probioma.org.bo
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Points of interest:
• Conference in the Netherlands on soy, sustainability and Brazil.
More info
• Sustainability Road show ABIOVE in Europe.
More info
•The Nature Conservancy and Cargill develop soy project in Brazil.
More info
• Fundapaz implements research in the agricultural frontier of the Chaco region in Argentina.
More info |
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| Upcoming Meetings and Conferences |
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FAO Meeting
RTRS chairs side event on responsible soy during FAO meeting in Rome.
Date: novembre 20, 2007 |
9° Congresso de Agribusiness - Oportunidades e Riscos do Agronegócio Brasileiro, Río de Janeiro.
Fecha: 4-5 de december 2007
For more information: http://www.sna.agr.br/sna9.htm |
World Biofuels Markets Congress, in Belgium.
Date: 12-13 de march 2008
For more information: http://www.worldbiofuelsmarkets.com |
General Assembly and 3rd Roundtable RTRS.
Date: 24-25 april 2008
For more information:http://www.responsiblesoy.org |
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