The first anniversary of the two-year moratorium on trading soy derived from freshly deforested areas of the Amazon has been marked with "positive impacts" already being felt. In one Amazonian state, 41 per cent less land has been used to plant soy since the moratorium came into effect, according to Greenpeace, whose pressure led to the moratorium's creation and the inclusion of suppliers Cargill, Bunge and ADM. Other members include the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), fast-food chain McDonald's and Cadbury Schweppes.

"The soy industry has actively got involved in this and we are very pleased with how it is going," a Cargill spokesperson told Functional Ingredients. "It's a multistakeholder-driven effort that is making good progress with some very complex and difficult issues. We are working with local organisations on the ground and international groups like Greenpeace and WWF. We are hopeful there will be a good outcome to this. We know our customers around Europe, which is the biggest market for us, are very pleased we have been getting involved in this."

The Brazilian government is also doing its bit by launching a land registration programme that promotes responsible cultivation among Amazonian farmers.

Amazon soy moratorium website: www.abiove.com.br/english/ss_moratoria_us.html