With deforestation and habitat conversion continuing to drive biodiversity loss and climate impacts, the question of whether global soy supply chains can truly be Deforestation- and Conversion-Free (DCF) is now central to sustainability debates.
Why DCF matters for soy
Soy is one of the world’s leading agricultural commodities, central to animal feed, human food, and a wide range of global industries. At the same time, it’s widely associated with high-risk landscapes—especially in South America’s Amazon, Cerrado, and Gran Chaco, where soy expansion has historically driven the conversion of forests and other critical ecosystems.
DCF commitments represent a company’s pledge to source soy (and other commodities) that is not associated with the clearing of natural forests or the conversion of non-forest natural ecosystems after a designated cut-off date. These commitments and the frameworks that guide them are now standard expectations for responsible operators, traders, and manufacturers.
Where we stand: DCF commitment progress
Thanks to the Accountability Framework initiative (AFi) and buyer-driven sourcing policies, an increasing number of major soy traders and brand manufacturers have publicly committed to DCF. The AFi’s clear, consensus-based guidelines have been instrumental in aligning the sector around credible definitions, reporting standards, and cut-off dates for deforestation and conversion.
- Traders and processors: Nearly all global soy majors—such as ADM, Bunge, Cargill, Louis Dreyfus, and COFCO—have public DCF or “No Deforestation, No Conversion, No Peat (NDCP)” commitments covering their direct sourcing, and are progressively expanding these to cover indirect sourcing and third-party suppliers.
- Buyers and brands: Consumer goods companies are making supply chain DCF commitments and increasingly requiring their suppliers to demonstrate traceability and compliance, often down to the farm plot level.
- Initiative alignment: Industry alliances such as the Soft Commodities Forum and the Consumer Goods Forum’s Forest Positive Coalition are now aligning on definitions and expectations for AFi benchmarks.
Implementation hurdles: beyond the policy
Despite broad uptake, making DCF operational in soy remains challenging:
- Traceability complexity: Unlike palm oil, the soy sector’s supply chain is highly fragmented. Achieving farm-level traceability, particularly for indirect sourcing via intermediaries, remains the sector’s primary bottleneck.
- Plot verification: Emerging regulations, such as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), now require that land use and legal compliance be verified at the plot level, rather than relying solely on country risk assessments or supplier questionnaires.
- Data quality and risk: Companies are turning to digital platforms (such as Meridia Verify) that enable scalable data verification to meet both regulatory and voluntary benchmark requirements.
Best practices and practical steps
For companies looking to operationalise credible DCF soy supply chains, key practical steps include:
- Clear policy alignment: Use the Accountability Framework for definitions, cut-off dates, and target-setting, ensuring internal and supplier policies are consistent. E.g. soy requires consideration of region-specific cutoff dates. For example, in Brazil, the Amazon Soy Moratorium establishes a distinct deforestation cut-off date. AFi recommends aligning cut-off dates with relevant local legislation and agreements.
- Supplier engagement: Support direct suppliers and intermediaries with capacity-building tools and clear protocols for data collection, risk assessment, and resolution.
- Leverage verification platforms: Adopt commodity-agnostic data validation and verification systems to provide the transparency and compliance documentation now expected by buyers, NGOs, and regulators alike.
Outlook: what’s next for soy DCF?
The combination of strengthened corporate commitments, regulatory drivers (like the EUDR), and digital traceability solutions creates an unprecedented opportunity for the soy sector to move from policy to proof. With frameworks such as the Accountability Framework and technology-enabled verification, DCF soy can move from ambition to a credible, measurable reality globally.
Meridia Verify for DCF
If you’re looking to strengthen your DCF strategy, Meridia Verify helps reveal hidden risks in your DCF data.
Verify offers:
- Flexible parameters and cut-off date
- Actionable resolutions and local context
- Comprehensive & verifiable tests
- Enterprise-grade security
- Exceptional customer experience
It is designed for fast adoption and does not require GIS experience.
