Webinar: Driving Sustainability in India with ProTerra Standards
On 25 June 2025, the ProTerra Foundation hosted a webinar to present the ProTerra Standard and the Smallholders Interpretation for sustainable soy production in India. The objective of the session was to clarify how ProTerra certification applies to crushers and processors, and how farms within their supply chains can progressively align with the Smallholders Interpretation – reaching full compliance over a five-year period.
Emese van Maanen, Managing Director of the ProTerra Foundation, opened the session by introducing the organisation’s global mission and its work in promoting sustainable and socially responsible agriculture. She provided an overview of the soy production landscape in India – the world’s fifth-largest producer – where a significant share comes from smallholder farms, particularly in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Emese explained how the Smallholders Interpretation was developed to support greater inclusivity in certification by recognising the realities of small-scale farming and enabling a stepwise approach toward compliance.
Emese also explained that the Smallholders Interpretation offers a phased approach to certification. Small farms can gradually improve their practices by starting with a reduced set of indicators. Processors and exporters who seek certification can provide guidance, ensuring greater accessibility and impact at farm level.
Mayuresh Apte of SGS India shared practical insights from implementation on the ground. He addressed key challenges such as limited mechanisation, small landholdings (typically under two hectares), traceability constraints, and record-keeping gaps. Despite these challenges, he highlighted notable progress in farmer engagement and an increasing adoption of sustainable practices, facilitated by processors investing in dedicated ProTerra-compliant supply chains.
Looking ahead, Emese emphasised the importance of preparing for the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and outlined ProTerra’s ongoing support efforts – including established training programmes, and primary environmental footprint data collection projects. With over 75,000 smallholders in India already participating in the programme, the Foundation is committed to strengthening supply chain collaboration and aims to publish its Indian environmental report by the end of 2025.
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We would like to thank all participants and partners for their engagement and look forward to continuing our shared journey towards more inclusive, transparent, and sustainable soy supply chains.