Awareness raising and advocacy on the negative impacts of soy production in the Pantanal

Soybean cultivation is rapidly expanding around the Pantanal and poses several threats to ecosystems and the people who are depending on them. Demand for soybeans is expected to rise for the coming decades due to increasing demand for meat, biomass and biofuel. The Netherlands play an important role in the financing, trade and consumption of soy. Dutch government and companies increasingly point to their participation in the Round Table on Responsible Soy when they are confronted with the negative impacts of soy production and consumption. However the outcome of this process is highly uncertain and possible results will probably take at least three more years. Moreover the RTRS is highly controversial for many social and environmental organisations that see this process as a green wash as long as participating soy-related companies do not take concrete measures. It is therefore crucial that the Dutch government itself takes measures. This project aims at raising awareness of Dutch citizens on the relation between their consumption patterns and their impact on nature and people in South America. Public pressure will be used in combination with information from local partner organisations to lobby Dutch and EU politicians. The long term goal of the project is to reduce the social and environmental impacts of soy cultivation and transport on the Pantanal region. Specific objectives are: • Dutch parliament adopts measures proposed by civil society to reduce the negative impacts of the Dutch soy consumption. • Heightened awareness among the Dutch public of this issue resulting in increased public support for favourable government measures and more responsible consumption • Dutch parliament adopts measures proposed by the Dutch Soy Coalition • Raised awareness among government officials, parliamentarians and Dutch companies participating in the Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS) on the reasons of the scepticism of NGOs towards RTRS • The Dutch government, the parliament and Dutch members of the European parliament take the initiative to bring measures to reduce the negative impacts of soy production to the European level.