COFCO International has delivered its first shipment of soybeans certified under its proprietary Responsible Agriculture Standard to Thailand, marking a significant advancement in sustainable agricultural trade between South America and Southeast Asia.
The cargo, loaded this week at Santos port, is destined for Thanakorn Vegetable Oil Products Co., Ltd., a leading Thai manufacturer of vegetable oil and animal feed products. The shipment represents a key milestone in COFCO’s sustainability strategy.
The soybeans are certified under Module 2 of COFCO’s standard, verifying they are deforestation and conversion-free since December 2020. On-farm audits ensure compliance with sustainable water management, biodiversity conservation and ethical labor practices.
COFCO utilizes a mass balance chain of custody model, which enhances operational efficiency while maintaining certification integrity. The company has previously supplied similarly certified soybeans to other markets from Brazil and Argentina.
The standard has gained significant international recognition, including alignment with European Feed Manufacturers’ Federation guidelines and endorsement from the Consumer Goods Forum’s Forest Positive Coalition of Action. Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture recently incorporated the standard into its Good Agriculture Practices Programme, providing financial incentives for participating farmers.
COFCO International aims to achieve deforestation-free soy and corn supply chains globally and conversion-free supply chains in South America by 2025, supporting its science-based climate targets.
