Benson Hill becomes first US company to receive ProTerra certification for non-GMO soy

USA-Benson Hill, Inc., a food tech company unlocking the natural genetic diversity of plants, announced that it has achieved the international ProTerra Certification for its non-GMO soybean portfolio.

The company becomes the first US-based ingredient provider to attain the certification. It joins the respected ProTerra Network, a group of companies dedicated to sustainable practices and continuous improvement.

The ProTerra Foundation is a nonprofit organization based in the Netherlands that advances and promotes sustainability at all levels of the feed and food production system.

Its certification program entails a commitment to full transparency and traceability throughout the food chain. 

In addition, the ProTerra certification ensures that high-quality crops, food, and feed, which are independently certified as non-GMO and produced with improved sustainability, are available on the global market.

It also helps in continuously improving day-to-day business operations and helps organizations engage and implement the concept of sustainable development.

For Benson Hill, attaining this certification will enable the company to solidify its position as a global ingredients company focused on responsible growth.

“Achieving the ProTerra certification standard is a testament to the ESG principles guiding our work to sustainably deliver our non-GMO soybean portfolio to markets within and outside the United States,” said Andres Martin, executive vice president, and general manager, International for Benson Hill

Throughout an extensive certification process, Benson Hill completed audits of its Creston, Iowa, and Seymour, Ind., plants as well as two shipping ports that store and transport its non-GMO soymeal.

The company also partnered with its growers to conduct several on-farm visits. These in-depth audits examined data related to identity preservation along with deforestation practices, biodiversity efforts, and other Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) metrics such as fair labor practices.

Emese van Maanen, managing director for the ProTerra Foundation, noted that the certification demonstrates Benson Hill’s commitment to continuously improve agricultural practices and achieve full transparency in the food supply chain.

The certification will also enable collaboration with farmers which is essential to developing long-term relationships that create benefits from plant to plate.

Benson Hill’s proprietary soy ingredient portfolio, designed to meet specific end uses with less processing and increased traceability, is currently available in North America and  Europe.

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