“Certification creates a common language between farmers and buyers…”
Marina Muscolo is the Executive Director at the Round Table on Responsible soybean Association – RTRS, with a degree in agronomy from the University of Buenos Aires, an MBA from IAE Business School and currently pursuing an Executive Master in Strategies for Sustainability at ESSEC Business School.
Marina Muscolo, Executive Director at RTRS
AgriBrasilis – What is RTRS certification?
Marina Muscolo – RTRS certification is a global, voluntary system that uses independent audits to verify whether soybean production meets environmental, social and economic sustainability criteria. Among other requirements, the RTRS Standard covers legal compliance, protection of high conservation value areas, good agricultural practices, respect for labour rights and responsible relationships with communities.
In addition to production certification, RTRS offers its Chain of Custody Standard, which establishes traceability and control mechanisms throughout the supply chain, allowing companies to demonstrate their commitment to sourcing responsibly produced soybean.
AgriBrasilis – What are the benefits of certified soybean for the supply chain? Why is it still the exception?
Marina Muscolo – Certified soybean benefits every link in the supply chain. For farmers, it provides access to markets with stricter requirements, improved farm management, lower risks and greater operational efficiency. For traders, industries, retailers and brands, it provides an internationally recognized tool to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability, traceability and responsible sourcing.
Certification also creates a common language between farmers and buyers, increasing transparency, credibility and trust throughout the supply chain.
In recent years, we have observed consistent growth in demand for responsibly produced soy, driven by corporate commitments, regulatory requirements and growing expectations from consumers and investors. Although considerable potential for expansion remains, RTRS certification has been gaining ground in strategic markets and consolidating its position as one of the leading global references for responsible soybean production.
One of the challenges to accelerating this expansion is the visibility of soybean among end consumers. Unlike other agricultural products, soybean is often present indirectly in the food supply chain, either as an ingredient in processed products or in animal feed. Consequently, many consumers do not recognize its fundamental role in the global food system or the positive impact that choosing more sustainable supply chains can generate. Therefore, in addition to expanding the certified supply, it is essential to strengthen the recognition and value attributed to sustainability credentials throughout the supply chain.
AgriBrasilis – How much of a premium does the market pay per tonne of certified soy?
Marina Muscolo – There is no fixed global premium per tonne of RTRS-certified soybean. The amount varies according to factors such as the market, region, mechanism used, supply and demand conditions and commercial agreements between the parties.
Depending on the model adopted, farmers receive additional remuneration for certified production, particularly through the sale of RTRS Credits or through certified physical supply chains that meet buyers’ specific requirements.
AgriBrasilis – Who pays for compliance with the certification requirements and for the audits: the farmer or the buyer?
Marina Muscolo – The costs of implementing the certification requirements and conducting the audits are normally borne by the farmer or group of farmers seeking certification.
The market, however, can help offset this investment through the purchase of RTRS Credits or certified soybean with recognized sustainability credentials. Under the RTRS Credit system, the farmer receives one credit for each tonne of certified soybean produced. This credit can be traded independently of the physical flow of the soybean.
The model was designed precisely to create value-sharing mechanisms throughout the supply chain, allowing the benefits of responsible production to also be recognized economically.
AgriBrasilis – Why does RTRS certification alone not guarantee compliance with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)?
Marina Muscolo – RTRS and the EUDR have converging objectives regarding the fight against deforestation and the promotion of responsible supply chains. However, the EUDR is European Union legislation that establishes specific requirements for due diligence, geolocation, risk assessment and demonstration of compliance that go beyond the scope of any voluntary certification system.
RTRS certification can provide important evidence and significantly reduce risks for operators and importers, but compliance with the EUDR remains the responsibility of the companies subject to the regulation. Certification is therefore an important tool for supporting compliance, but it does not fully replace the legal obligations established by the European regulation.
At the same time, RTRS has been working to support companies in this new regulatory environment. Its Chain of Custody Standard includes an optional model aligned with EUDR requirements, offering additional traceability and segregation mechanisms that can help demonstrate the compliance required under the European regulation.
AgriBrasilis – Could RTRS certification replace the soybean Moratorium in Brazil?
Marina Muscolo – RTRS and the soybean Moratorium are different instruments with distinct objectives and mechanisms.
The soybean Moratorium is a sectoral agreement specifically covering the Brazilian Amazon biome and focused on preventing the trade of soybean produced in areas deforested after the cut-off date established by the commitment. RTRS, by contrast, is an international voluntary certification standard applicable in different countries and producing regions that addresses a broader range of environmental, social and economic criteria.
Rather than being viewed as mutually exclusive alternatives, these instruments can be complementary. RTRS offers a comprehensive approach to responsible production based on internationally recognized standards and independent audit verification. It is important to highlight that one of the requirements of the RTRS Standard is the zero-deforestation and zero-conversion criterion, which applies to all biomes and all countries where certified soybean is produced. RTRS therefore promotes ecosystem protection globally, extending beyond a specific geographical context.
While the soybean Moratorium operates as a sectoral commitment focused exclusively on the Brazilian Amazon, RTRS provides an international framework that integrates environmental, social and economic requirements into a single certification. Advancing sustainability in the soybean supply chain depends on combining different tools, initiatives and policies capable of addressing the specific challenges of each region and market.
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