Sustainable Soy Production for Nutrition Security
Soy protein provides all nine essential amino acids needed by humans and animals to thrive. Regenerative agriculture makes it a sustainable choice.
Soy Packs a Powerful Protein Punch
Protein is an essential nutrient for optimal physical, mental and emotional well-being at all stages of life. Soybeans are oilseed legumes (because they contain oil). They produce more protein per hectare than other legumes, and greenhouse gas emissions per unit of protein are low compared to other sources of protein.
Soy is considered a nutritional powerhouse with a high protein content and complete nutritional profile. Set against a backdrop of a growing global middle class, consumers worldwide are prioritizing quality nourishment and sustainability in their food choices. U.S. soy offers both, including the lowest carbon footprint compared to soy grown in other countries as measured by Blonk Agri-footprint database.
U.S. Soy’s Well-Earned Reputation for Sustainability
U.S. soybean farmers are widely recognized for their innovative solutions to the challenge of a changing climate. Through their commitment to regenerative agriculture, they are producing more with fewer resources while at the same time supporting a healthy society and preserving the planet.
This progress is being recognized globally, with an increasing number of food and animal feed companies adopting the Sustainable U.S. Soy (SUSS) label as they shift procurement towards more sustainable supply chains. The SUSS label is currently featured on more than 1,000 products available to consumers in over 20 countries.
Dutch Mill Group, Thailand’s leading dairy and soy milk producer, is reinforcing its commitment to sustainability and quality by featuring the SUSS label on its product packaging. As the first Thai soy milk brand to use the label, Dutch Mill is setting a benchmark for responsible sourcing and transparency in the industry.
In July 2025, Dutch Mill introduced the SUSS label on its Soy Secretz products for export to China. The rollout will expand across more than 10 products under its DNA brand, with plans to introduce the SUSS label to domestic Thai products in 2026.
The sustainability of U.S. soy is verified by the U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP), a program developed in 2013 through a multi-stakeholder process. It has earned multiple third-party sustainability accreditations, including gold level equivalency against the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform’s Farm Sustainability Assessment 3.0 and meeting sustainable production standards of the 2023 Soy Sourcing Guidelines of the European Feed Manufacturers’ Federation (FEFAC).
The independently audited SSAP provides quantifiable information and credible assurance to international U.S. soy customers that the soy they purchase is sustainable. In 2025, 71% of all U.S. soy exports were shipped with an SSAP certificate according to Soy Export Sustainability, LLC.
U.S. soy offers a clear carbon footprint advantage over other soy exporting countries, including Brazil. This advantage is largely driven by lower emissions from land use change, since the U.S. is not expanding soybean acres through deforestation. Global buyers committed to responsible sourcing can have confidence in U.S. soy because its lower carbon footprint supports more sustainable supply chains.
Not All Soy is Created Equal
The world’s population and the demand for food continue to grow every day. For sustainable protein nutrition, trust U.S. soy to deliver upon its commitment to quality, reliability and transparency for generations to come.
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