This report, commissioned by WWF Germany, updates Profundo’s 2023 soy voluntary standards benchmark to reflect their evolution in response to the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and the ways standards can practically support company due diligence in 2025. It reviews 20 soy Voluntary Standard Systems (VSS) benchmarked against FEFAC’s 2023 Soy Sourcing Guidelines, focusing on what has changed since 2023 and what remains to be done for a credible, deforestation- and conversion-free, and “EUDR-ready” soy supply in Europe.
The report closes with conclusions and targeted recommendations for three audiences: (i) VSS owners/managers (to align definitions, strengthen segregated EUDR compliant chain-of-custody and field-grounded assurance, and enhance transparency), (ii) downstream buyers and financial institutions (to use credible third-party verification within due-diligence and financing frameworks), and (iii) EU regulators (extend protection to other ecosystems, and require and recognise the role of third party, independent assurance).
