Lanka’s poultry industry emerges as regional model, recognized by US Soybean Export Council for sustainable practices

BY Rathindra Kuruwita

The poultry industry in Sri Lanka is a model for other countries in the region, senior officials of the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) recently said in an event in Dubai.Jim Sutter, Chief Executive Officer of USSEC, said that he has always viewed Sri Lanka as a small but highly progressive country compared to its peers in the region.

Sutter highlighted that the Sri Lankan poultry industry has implemented processes and mechanisms ensuring a high level of hygiene, leaving Sri Lankan consumers with no doubts about the quality of the products they purchase.

“I have seen great shops in Sri Lanka where poultry is marketed in a very professional way. If that can be replicated in other countries in the region, it will give consumers confidence that the food is safe,” he said.

He said that USSEC is a key stakeholder representing U.S. soybean producers, processors, commodity shippers, merchandisers, allied agribusinesses, and agricultural organizations and that they have been working with partners from South Asia for years.

Sutter said USSEC currently works extensively with Sri Lanka’s poultry industry, and their recent efforts involve encouraging major poultry producers to adopt the “Sustainable U.S. Soy” label. In a ceremony in Dubai in December 2023, almost all key players in the Sri Lankan poultry industry signed an agreement allowing them to use the “Sustainable U.S. Soy” label on their packaging.

This label is granted to customers who verify the sustainability of their soybean purchases using the U.S. Soybean Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP). The SSAP acts as a trusted third-party verification that soybeans meet defined sustainability standards, allowing businesses to demonstrate their commitment to sourcing sustainable soybeans.

“Sri Lanka is a model perhaps for what other countries in the region, particularly India, could look like 10-15 years from now,” he said.

Stan Born, chairman of the board of USSEC, said the organization does bespoke things with each market so they can align with what each country needs. “Sri Lanka has a young progressive population and they are looking to do things differently,” he said.