Evaluating the adoption of the Round Table on Responsible Soy in Mato Grosso, Brazil
Abstract
This article examines Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS) certification adoption in Mato Grosso, Brazil's largest soy-producing region. We investigate changes in certified farms, production volumes, spatial distribution, and impacts on production methods. Our analysis reveals contested efforts to implement sustainable production principles. While RTRS demonstrates potential through multi-actor governance and supply chain tracking, its transformative capacity remains limited by absent state involvement, lack of social movement participation, and neutrality toward conventional technological packages. Without greater profitability for certified soy and increased consumer demand, significant adjustments to the RTRS scheme are necessary for effective environmental and social transformations.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Sustainable Agricultural Systems Analysis
Genetically Modified Organisms Research
Rural Development and Agriculture
Publication details
- Journal / source
- The Journal of Peasant Studies
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Volume
- 53
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 1072–1096
- Publication date
- 7 January 2026
- Language
- EN