Latest news with #soy
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Brazil regulator suspends soy moratorium, orders probe of exporters
Brazil regulator suspends soy moratorium, orders probe of exporters By Ana Mano SAO PAULO (Reuters) -Brazil's competition authority CADE has given grain traders in the world's largest soybean exporter 10 days to suspend a program called "soy moratorium" or face hefty fines, in a ruling seen by Reuters on Monday. The two-decade-old private pact seeks to protect the Amazon rainforest, by barring soybean traders from buying from farmers who cleared land there after July 2008, but it represents a potential breach of Brazilian competition law. In his signed decision, the agency's general superintendent Alexandre Barreto de Souza called for a full investigation into the signatories of the voluntary corporate program in which companies share commercially sensitive information. Firms wishing to apply soy moratorium criteria to buy soybeans grown in the Amazon "must do so independently and in accordance with national legislation," he wrote. However, environmental group Greenpeace said the ruling was the result of pressure from the farm lobby, compromising nearly two decades of progress. "By suspending the moratorium, CADE not only encourages deforestation but also silences consumers' right to choose products that do not contribute to the devastation of the Amazon," it said in a statement after the ruling was issued. The attacks on the pact "are political and favor precisely those who profit most from the destruction of the Amazon," it added. CADE's decision to suspend the program was "historic", said farmer group Aprosoja Mato Grosso. "For years, a private agreement without legal support has been imposing unfair trade barriers on farmers ... preventing the sale of crops grown in regular and licensed areas," it said in a statement. De Souza has given soy buyers and trade groups Anec and Abiove, which represent global grain handlers such as ADM, Bunge, Cargill, Louis Dreyfus and Cofco, 10 days to comply with the ruling. CADE's stance on the moratorium is "extremely worrisome" and will be appealed, Anec, which represents grain exporters, said in a statement, however. The program should stand as it is "a multi-sector pact" backed by civil society, the environment ministry and Brazil's environment agency Ibama, it added. Abiove, which represents oilseeds crushers, said it was "surprised" at the recommendation for a full-blown probe and imposition of preventive measures, adding in a statement that it would take steps to prove the pact was legal. CADE's preventive measures must be adopted by the soy moratorium's working group, including Anec and Abiove, and 30 grain companies that have signed up to the program, the ruling showed. It also ordered soy exporters to refrain from collecting, sharing, storing and disseminating commercially sensitive information related to the soy trade and the farmers with whom they do business. The order calls for the withdrawal of all soy moratorium information and related online publicity.
Reuters
21 hours ago
- Business
- Reuters
Brazil regulator suspends soy moratorium, orders probe of exporters
SAO PAULO, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Brazil's competition authority CADE has given grain traders in the world's largest soybean exporter 10 days to suspend a program called "soy moratorium" or face hefty fines, in a ruling seen by Reuters on Monday. The two-decade-old private pact seeks to protect the Amazon rainforest, by barring soybean traders from buying from farmers who cleared land there after July 2008, but it represents a potential breach of Brazilian competition law. In his signed decision, the agency's general superintendent Alexandre Barreto de Souza called for a full investigation into the signatories of the voluntary corporate program in which companies share commercially sensitive information. Firms wishing to apply soy moratorium criteria to buy soybeans grown in the Amazon "must do so independently and in accordance with national legislation," he wrote. However, environmental group Greenpeace said the ruling was the result of pressure from the farm lobby, compromising nearly two decades of progress. "By suspending the moratorium, CADE not only encourages deforestation but also silences consumers' right to choose products that do not contribute to the devastation of the Amazon," it said in a statement after the ruling was issued. The attacks on the pact "are political and favor precisely those who profit most from the destruction of the Amazon," it added. CADE's decision to suspend the program was "historic", said farmer group Aprosoja Mato Grosso. "For years, a private agreement without legal support has been imposing unfair trade barriers on farmers ... preventing the sale of crops grown in regular and licensed areas," it said in a statement. De Souza has given soy buyers and trade groups Anec and Abiove, which represent global grain handlers such as ADM (ADM.N), opens new tab, Bunge, Cargill, Louis Dreyfus and Cofco, 10 days to comply with the ruling. CADE's stance on the moratorium is "extremely worrisome" and will be appealed, Anec, which represents grain exporters, said in a statement, however. The program should stand as it is "a multi-sector pact" backed by civil society, the environment ministry and Brazil's environment agency Ibama, it added. Abiove, which represents oilseeds crushers, said it was "surprised" at the recommendation for a full-blown probe and imposition of preventive measures, adding in a statement that it would take steps to prove the pact was legal. CADE's preventive measures must be adopted by the soy moratorium's working group, including Anec and Abiove, and 30 grain companies that have signed up to the program, the ruling showed. It also ordered soy exporters to refrain from collecting, sharing, storing and disseminating commercially sensitive information related to the soy trade and the farmers with whom they do business. The order calls for the withdrawal of all soy moratorium information and related online publicity.
The Guardian
26-07-2025
- General
- The Guardian
‘Astonishingly good value' – the best supermarket tofu, tasted and rated
This test helped me realise just how much I truly love tofu, even cold. Like all deceptively simple products, such as wine, coffee and chocolate, tofu's character is rooted in its terroir: the soil, biodiversity, climate, plant species and production process. Most tofu is made by curdling soy milk with nigari, a coagulant made from magnesium chloride, which is naturally derived from seawater. It's an ancient method still used across Japan and south-east Asia. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. To keep things fair, I tasted each tofu cold, straight from the packet, then boiled and fried (without pressing or seasoning) each one to observe its flavour, structure and performance. Boiling showed that all the tofus held their shape, while frying brought out major differences in colouring, crust and bite: some crisped up beautifully, others stayed soft and chewy, so if you mainly fry your tofu, that's worth bearing in mind. It's also worth noting that organic tofus are GMO-free by definition. 89p for 180g at Aldi (49p/100g)★★★★★ A small, beige block with rounded edges and a sweet, familiar soya aroma. It's a super-firm tofu with a dense, satisfying bite that holds up brilliantly to cooking, especially frying. Made with 57% EU-grown organic soya, it's very high in protein (14g a serving) and astonishingly good value. A real standout. £1.34 for 300g at Sainsbury's (45p/100g)★★★★☆ A great blank canvas with a subtle aroma and gentle, sweet taste. Firm but moist, and transformed by frying to a golden-crusted, deep flavour. Made from organic, non-EU soya (34%), it's high in protein and excellent value. Though a little lower in soya content, it delivers fantastic performance in the pan and at an incredible price. £2.90 for 396g at Ocado (73p/100g)£3 for 396g at Waitrose (76p/100g)★★★★★ Distinctively marbled and off-white/grey, this has a subtle aroma and a clean, complex flavour. Very firm and reacts well to frying, forming a satisfyingly thick crust. Made with 35.8% organic soya, using a mix of EU and non-EU beans, it's high in protein and has strong sustainability credentials. A well-rounded option that's a very close runner-up to the best overall. £2.30 for 280g at Sainsbury's (82p/100g)£2.30 for 280g at Tesco (82p/100g)★★★★☆ An irregularly marbled block with a deep umami, almost smoky aroma and a lovely firm bounce. One of the densest, less traditional tofus tested, with a chewy bite. When fried, it forms a good golden crust with loads of flavour. Made in Yorkshire using organic soya from EU and non-EU farms. Great Taste Award-winning, very high in protein (16.5g per 100g) and a bold, characterful choice. £2.50 for 300g at Ocado (83p/100g)★★★★☆ A uniform block with a sweet, subtle aroma, a soft bite and a gentle soya flavour. Holding its shape and forming a delicate, uniform golden crust when fried, this has one of the best textures in the whole test group. Made from organic, non-EU soya, it has 34% soya content and a respectable protein level. Strikes a solid balance between taste and texture. Sign up to The Filter Get the best shopping advice from the Filter team straight to your inbox. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. after newsletter promotion £2 for 300g at Morrisons (67p/100g)£2.55 for 300g at Ocado (85p/100g)★★★★☆ A uniform block with a sweet, neutral aroma, a soft bite and a creamy mouthfeel. Flavourful and pleasantly sweet, it's perfectly crunchy and delicious when fried, with a consistent golden crust – perhaps the best overall for frying. Certified organic with non-EU soya, it's been handmade in Devon since 1984 and holds a Taste of the West Gold award. £1.95 for 399g at Tesco (49p/100g)★★★☆☆ A uniform, cream block with a sweet, clean smell and a gentle flavour. Its soft texture makes it satisfying to eat raw, though it doesn't crisp up easily when fried, hence the lower score (instead, it develops a chewy, caramelised edge with a spongy interior). Made from organic, non-EU soya (34%), it's a good source of protein and exceptional value for organic tofu. £1.95 for 300g at Waitrose (65p/100g)★★★☆☆ A gentle, savoury aroma and a soft bite with a slight sweetness. The texture is on the delicate side, especially when boiled, and it doesn't fry especially well (pressing first will help). Made with 34% organic, non-EU-grown soya, it's certified organic, but lacks firmness. Decent value, but there are more versatile options at a lower price point. £3 for 400g at Ocado (75p/100g)★★★☆☆ A white block with a soft bite, this has a sweet, subtle aroma and a clean soya taste. Despite being one of the softest in the test, it crisps up surprisingly well when fried, forming a light but satisfying crust. However, it's the only non-organic product tested, and made with just 16% soya – far lower than the others. Limited provenance or sustainability information, so with such strong competition, it offers less value for money. £5 for 500g at Ocado (£1/100g)£29.94 for 6 x 500g at Amazon (£1/100g)★★★☆☆ An irregular, mottled, off-white block that looks hand-shaped, and that's full of bubbles. One of the firmest to bite with a complex, soya-forward flavour. Fries very well, forming a great crust. Certified organic with non-EU soya, it's the only product tested with a fully reusable and recyclable container. Owned by Windmill Organics, a great company committed to organic farming, which earns it a bonus point.
Reuters
20-06-2025
- Science
- Reuters
Insight: A corporate deal that protected the Amazon from soy farming starts to show cracks
SANTAREM, Brazil, June 20 (Reuters) - Brazilian soy farmers are pushing further into the Amazon rainforest to plant more of their crops, putting pressure on a landmark deal signed two decades ago aimed at slowing deforestation. Many are taking advantage of a loophole in the Amazon Soy Moratorium, a voluntary agreement signed by the world's top grain traders in 2006 that they would not buy soy grown on land deforested after 2008. The Moratorium, opens new tab protects old-growth rainforest that has never before been cleared, but excludes many other kinds of vegetation and forests that have regrown on previously cleared land, known as secondary forests. While this land is also important for preserving the fragile Amazon biome, farmers can raze it and plant soy without violating the terms of the Moratorium and could even market it as deforestation-free. The most recent official annual report on the Moratorium, which covers the crop year 2022-2023, showed that soy planted on virgin forest has almost tripled between 2018 and 2023 to reach 250,000 hectares, or 3.4% of all soy in the Amazon. Its study area is limited to municipalities that grow over 5,000 hectares of soy. However, Xiaopeng Song, a professor at the geographical sciences department of the University of Maryland who has tracked the expansion of soy over the past two decades, found more than four times that forest loss. Satellite data he analyzed exclusively for Reuters shows 16% of Brazilian Amazon land under production for soy, or about 1.04 million hectares, is planted where trees have been cleared since 2008, the cutoff date agreed in the Moratorium. "I would like to see secondary forest and recovered forest included in the Moratorium," said Song. "It creates loopholes if we only limit it to primary forest." Abiove, the soy industry body overseeing the Moratorium, said in a statement that the agreement aims to rein in deforestation of old-growth forests while other methodologies have broader criteria that could lead to "inflated interpretations." Reuters was unable to make a detailed comparison because Abiove declined to share granular data. Data in the Moratorium report comes from Brazil's National Institute of Space Research, and its assessments are recognized internationally and monitored independently. Abiove said it was aware that some soy was planted in areas where regrown forests had been cut. The discrepancy over how to define a forest has huge implications for conservation. Deforestation, drought and heat driven by climate change bring the rainforest closer to a tipping pointbeyond which it starts an irreversible transformation into a savannah. Most scientists are calling not only for a halt to all deforestation but also for increased efforts to reforest. Viola Heinrich, a post-doctoral researcher at the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, who has extensively studied secondary forests in the Amazon, said these were "crucial" in limiting global warming even if initially less biodiverse. "We cannot achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement without actively increasing the carbon sink," she said, referring to regenerating ecosystems that rapidly absorb and store carbon. Secondary forests absorb carbon at a faster rate than old-growth forests, but store less of it. On a scorching afternoon late last year, on the outskirts of Santarem, a port city by the Amazon River, farmers were in the last stages of clearing land. Felled trees were neatly stacked up in rows, ready to be burnt. Some of these trees were around three decades old, part of a secondary forest on land that was once razed to make way for cattle but later abandoned, satellite images showed. "What can be stolen once, can be stolen again," said Gilson Rego, of the Pastoral Land Commission, a church-affiliated group working with locals affected by deforestation, as he pointed to surrounding areas where soy had been planted. In the last five years, Rego saw the area dedicated to the crop soar. More than a dozen soy and subsistence farmers who spoke to Reuters said the main draw was the nearby Cargill terminal from where soy is shipped worldwide because it reduces costs for logistics. Cargill did not respond to requests for comment. The boom helped Brazil overtake the United States in 2020 as the world's largest soy exporter. About two thirds of it ships to China, whose largest buyer, Cofco, has signed up to the Moratorium and said earlier this year that it was committed to it. Nearly all of it is used to fatten animals for meat production. Still, Song estimated an additional 6 million hectares of the rainforest would have been lost to soy in Brazil without the Moratorium and related conservation efforts, considering the pace of expansion elsewhere. Neighboring Bolivia, he said, had become a deforestation hot spot. Brazilian farmers have always opposed the Moratorium and complained that even a small amount of deforestation can lead traders to block purchases from entire farms, a policy that Abiove is considering changing. Thousands of properties that cover some 10% of soy's footprint in the region are currently blocked. Adelino Avelino Noimann, the vice president of the soy farmers association in Para state, where Santarem is located, said the soy boom was creating opportunities in a poor country. "It's not fair that other countries in Europe could deforest and grow, and now we are held back by laws that are not even ours," said Noimann. Farming groups allied with right-wing politicians, once a fringe movement, have launched lawsuits and legislative attacks on the Moratorium in the capital Brasilia, and half a dozen major agricultural states, seeking to weaken its provisions. At the end of April, a justice from Brazil's Supreme Court said it would allow the country's biggest farming state, Mato Grosso, to withdraw tax incentives from signatories of the Moratorium. The ruling still needs to be confirmed by the full court. Andre Nassar, the president of Abiove, the soy industry body that oversees the Moratorium, has already hinted that it could weaken rules to appease farmers. "The solution is not ending the Moratorium or keeping it as it is," Nassar told senators in April. "Something needs to be done." Global traders including ADM, Bunge, Cargill, Cofco and Louis Dreyfus Company had all signed up back in 2006. Abiove and the grain traders it represents have declined to publicly discuss details but environmental group Greenpeace, which is part of some discussions, said last year that behind closed doors there was a push from traders to weaken it. Environmentalists like Andre Guimaraes, an executive director at IPAM, another nonprofit that monitors the agreement, said that even with its faults it was important. "We still see the expansion of soy in the Amazon," he said. "But it could be worse." Other environmentalists said it should be reinforced by closing loopholes. Abundant water and nutrient-rich soil are the main reasons farmers from other parts of the country, including the soy heartland Mato Grosso, have moved to Para. "Here, we can have as many as three harvests," said Edno Valmor Cortezia, the president of the local farmers union, adding that farmers there can grow soy, corn and wheat on the same plot in a single year. In the municipality Belterra near Santarem, soy expansion stopped short only at a local cemetery and school. Raimundo Edilberto Sousa Freitas, the principal, showed Reuters court records and supporting evidence for two instances when 80 children and teachers had symptoms of pesticide intoxication last year. One farmer was later fined, the records showed, but the crop continues to claim more of the area every year. Occasionally, a few imposing trees that are protected by law are left in sprawling fields of soy, the last reminder of the lush biome that was once there.
