THE SOY MODEL: IRRESPONSIBLE, UNSUSTAINABLE, OPPRESSIVE

 CALL TO SUPPORT THE COUNTERMOVEMENT

 TO THE SECOND 'ROUND TABLE ON RESPONSIBLE SOY'

 Referring to the Declaration issued by Paraguayan farmers' organisations and NGO's followed by mobilisations and debates, we are calling for the support of organisations world wide to oppose the 'Responsible Soy' initiative. From August 31 - 2nd September, the second 'Round Table on Responsible Soy' will take place in Asunción, Paraguay. Initiated by WWF, the Round Table is co-organised by Coop Switzerland, Unilever, ABN-AMRO, AAPRESID, Grupo Andre Maggi, and Guyra Paraguay.

 In the ambiance of a luxury hotel, options will be discussed to create an international niche market for "responsible soy" (note: see www.responsiblesoy.org). The objective of this initiative is to reduce the "considerable social and environmental costs" that soy production and its expansion entails. "Responsible soy" would be soy produced according a set of negotiated criteria. Buying this specific soy will allow the food and feed industry to advertise their products as "responsible" or "green".

In Paraguay, indigenous, farmers, urban movements as well as civil society organisations reject this Round Table as a greenwashing exercise for agribusiness and industries that benefit from this exploitative and destructive monoculture. The expansion of soy production in Paraguay goes hand in hand with increased land conflicts and repression, expulsion of the rural population, contamination of soil and water with agrochemicals and related health crises, and loss of food sovereignty. More than 100 peasant leaders have been killed, and 2000 peasants fighting for land are facing legal cases against them. Against this background, the concept of 'responsible soy' is highly deceptive.

Most soy is being exported to Europe (and increasingly China), mainly as animal feed for its factory farms. This contributes massively towards the ecological debt that Europe owes to the South. Instead of growing sufficient animal feed itself, Europe has become dependent on soy imports to sustain a huge overproduction of meat and dairy products, that are in turn being exported around the world. International trade agreements have further strengthened Europe's addiction to soy. 'Responsible Soy' does not provide a solution to the many problems soy monoculture creates. It does not question the agroexport model, but instead legitimises the activities of multinational corporations that dominate the food chain, from seed producers like Monsanto, DuPont, and Syngenta, to grain traders like Cargill, ADM and Bunge, and finally food processing companies and supermarkets. Therefore groups and movements around the world are called to: Support the Declaration issued by Paraguayan organisations Critically follow the 'responsible soy' process Boycot the second 'Round Table on Responsible Soy' in Asunción, Paraguay, August 31 - 2nd September 2006