Major UK Retailers Issue Urgent Warning Following Collapse of Amazon Soy Agreement
Eight of the United Kingdom's leading supermarket chains have issued a stark collective warning following the sudden collapse of a pivotal 20-year environmental agreement. The retailers, deeply concerned by recent developments, are urging global soy traders to uphold their sustainability commitments after Brazilian lawmakers effectively dismantled a crucial forest protection pact.
Supermarket Coalition Voices Deep Concern
The coalition of concerned retailers includes industry giants Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Lidl, Aldi, Morrisons, Marks & Spencer, and the Co-operative Group. Their alarm stems from the decision by several major soy traders to withdraw from the Amazon Soy Moratorium (ASM) this week. This voluntary agreement, established in 2006 and enforced from 2008, has been instrumental in restricting the sale of soybeans cultivated on recently deforested land within the Amazon biome.
For nearly two decades, this moratorium has successfully ensured that approximately 98% of the soy produced in the region complies with its anti-deforestation standards. Its abrupt termination represents a significant setback for environmental conservation efforts linked to UK food supply chains.
Open Letter Highlights Risks to Consumer Confidence and Climate Goals
In a strongly worded open letter addressed to the abandoning traders, the supermarket groups expressed profound disappointment. "We are deeply disappointed to see that Abiove, and your company, has now voluntarily withdrawn from the moratorium," the letter states. The retailers warned that this retreat "risks weakening existing deterrents to deforestation, undermines future efforts to develop collaborative protection agreements, and threatens efforts to secure the sustainability of your investments in Brazilian soy production."
The letter further cautions that the breakdown of this long-standing agreement will severely damage consumer confidence in the sustainability credentials of products reliant on Brazilian soy, which is a common ingredient in animal feed and countless food items.
Industry and Advocacy Groups Call for Concrete Action
The sentiment is echoed by broader industry and environmental bodies. The UK Soy Manifesto, a collective representing 60% of the UK's soy demand and including members like Sainsbury's, Tesco, Danone, and Greggs, has stated it is "deeply concerned" by the developments.
Will Schreiber, a director at the Retail Soy Group, emphasised the need for a unified approach: "There needs to be some sort of agreement. We need credible action to avoid fragmentation. If there are just guidelines, some soy producers will make money from destruction."
Glenn Hurowitz, CEO of the environmental organisation Mighty Earth, issued a direct challenge to companies sourcing soy. He urged that businesses "need to fight for" the ASM and move beyond mere statements of support. "So far, too many companies have issued statements expressing support for the Amazon Soy Moratorium and their love of mother nature but have not been willing to exact sufficient commercial consequences to protect it," Hurowitz stated. "That means cutting off suppliers abandoning the ASM."
The collective warning from UK supermarkets underscores a critical juncture for global agricultural supply chains. It highlights the growing pressure on corporations to enforce environmental standards through their purchasing power, especially as climate change accelerates. The collapse of this agreement forces a urgent reassessment of how sustainability in commodity sourcing is governed and protected.
