The French Soy Manifesto

What is it?

A Manifesto “for a mobilization of French actors to fight against imported deforestation linked to soya”.

The Manifesto under the Earthworm Foundation aims to bring together as many stakeholders as possible (industrialists, food manufacturers, importers, public authorities, etc.) around the same commitments, to shift the market towards responsible soy outside of traditional certification schemes.

The ZDC (Zero Deforestation or Conversion) methodology, a methodology developed by Earthworm and recognized by the signatories of the Manifesto, makes it possible, for example, to import soya into the territory that meets the expectations of France’s National Strategy to Combat Imported Deforestation SNDI.

The main commitments are as follows:

• Support the cut-off date of January 1, 2020 – Support the rapid establishment of a common cut-off date for stakeholders (cut-off date) of January 1, 2020, to prohibit any soya imported from an area that has been deforested/converted after this date, whether legally or illegal;
• Mobilize suppliers – Mobilize suppliers by integrating a contractual non-conversion/deforestation clause taking into account the cut-off date in the specifications;
• Achieve responsible soy sourcing – Ultimately achieve 100% soy supplies that meet the expectations of the SNDI, i.e. whose physical control makes it possible to guarantee that imported soy is not linked to legal or illegal practices of deforestation and conversion, based on the deadline;
• Track risk exposure – Monitor exposure to the risk of imported deforestation linked to soy using the SNDI dashboard for assessing deforestation risks linked to French soy imports;
• Collaborate in the implementation of landscape projects – Where possible, collaborate in the implementation of solutions for responsible soy production in producing countries; and,
• Report on the individual action plan – Report on the individual action plan, to ensure the implementation of this commitment.

This approach aims to extend to the European level.