Sustainable soy gains prominence in global climate discussions

The Global Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS) was present at London Climate Action Week 2025, one of the most important global agendas on sustainability and climate, held at the end of June in London, England.

With strategic action on different fronts, RTRS demonstrated its leading role in articulating a more responsible, inclusive soybean chain that is aligned with climate challenges.

As part of this agenda, the RTRS 2025 Task Force Europe was organized, a meeting that brought together 40 representatives from various sectors, such as producers, traders, financial institutions and civil society organizations from across Europe, RTRS members or RTRS certificate holders.

"The objective of this event was to promote collaboration, innovation and the definition of concrete solutions for the advancement of the sustainable soybean production chain, reinforcing RTRS's commitment to promoting responsible soy practices in Europe," said RTRS's global executive director, Luiza Bruscato, who, together with RTRS's Market and European leader, Martina Torma, presented the Association's Work Plan for 2027 and the specific European Work Plan for 2025.

Another highlight of the event was the presentation of the RTRS Regenerative Agriculture Program, a project that seeks to promote the transition to agricultural practices that restore and enhance ecosystems, not just minimize negative impacts. "There were several interesting discussions about how to scale these initiatives across the sector," highlights the director.

Also at the event, the interactive World Cafe session was held, enabling in-depth discussion on topics such as carbon market dynamics, strategies for achieving zero deforestation and conversion, emerging market development, and certification of declarations and chain of custody.

"It was a very inspiring meeting and a major step toward a deeper transformation in the way we connect and interact with our network. We created a real space to listen, exchange ideas, and co-create the future of RTRS," Luiza emphasizes.

Participation in relevant global forums

In addition to hosting the Europe 2025 Task Force, RTRS participated in two strategic events during Climate Week in London. One of them was hosted by the Tropical Forest Alliance (TFA), attended by representatives from the private, financial, and government sectors. The session discussed how the combination of effective regulation, catalytic capital, and cross-sector collaboration can accelerate the transition to sustainable agricultural systems.

The event also highlighted Brazil's leading role in this agenda. A speech by Minister-Counselor Felipe Bandeira de Mello, from the Brazilian Embassy in the United Kingdom, reinforced that production and conservation can go hand in hand, and that sustainability should not be seen as a cost, but as a survival imperative.

The third highlight was RTRS's participation in the meeting organized by Volans, a company led by John Elkington, an international leader in sustainability. The debate assessed the current state of sustainable practices worldwide.

"We've seen significant, but still incremental, progress. It's all evolutionary, but not revolutionary as it should be. We no longer have time to stand still. We need creative, high-impact, and scalable solutions," Luiza assesses.

Consolidation of RTRS's international presence

With a robust, multi-sectoral agenda, RTRS's performance during London Climate Week reaffirms the association's position as a leading global advocate for responsible soy. The organization remains committed to fostering innovation, transparency in supply chains, and building viable solutions for producers, buyers, and consumers worldwide.

"The RTRS demonstrates that it is possible to connect agriculture, market, and climate with integrity, dialogue, and concrete action. The strength of our work lies precisely in the diversity of voices we bring together around a common purpose: a fairer and more sustainable soybean supply chain," concludes the institution's executive director.