Bunge gains ASC approval for soy certification used in aquafeed

BRAZIL – Bunge has secured approval from the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) for its proprietary Certification Program for Sustainable Agricultural Sourcing, known as PRO-S, a move the company says will support growth in aquafeed ingredients, especially soymeal.

The company said the approval confirms that PRO-S meets the ASC Feed Standard, which buyers and producers use to check responsible sourcing in fish feed. Bunge expects the decision to help customers meet sourcing rules while expanding sales in the fish feed market.

Bunge said ASC acts as an independent body that sets global rules on environmental and social practices in fish farming and feed. The company stressed the value of third party checks for feed buyers.

“This recognition is key for our customers and partners in the aquafeed industry. The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) acts as an independent ‘referee’ for responsible fish farming, setting recognized global standards for environmental and social responsibility. Its Feed Standard helps certify that ingredients come from verified sustainable sources,” the company said.

Bunge runs PRO-S as its own certification standard across all commodities it sources. Through independent audits, the program checks legal compliance, limits negative environmental impacts such as deforestation, and applies social responsibility rules.

The company said the ASC decision confirms that these standards align with Feed Standard needs and supports further growth in soymeal sales to fish feed producers.

Michel Santos, Senior Director for Sustainability Grains and Oils Global Platforms, said the approval gives Bunge a clear market edge. He noted that Bunge created PRO-S in 2012 and has improved it over time. The program received early backing from the European Feed Manufacturers Association, also known as FEFAC, which helped lift sales across major European markets from 2017.

Related steps across protein and fuel markets

The ASC decision comes alongside other recent moves by Bunge in Brazil. In January 2026, Bunge and Mantiqueira Brasil signed a deal to supply 12,000 tons of fully traceable soybean meal to Brazil’s poultry sector.

The companies said the meal has a carbon footprint between 40 percent and 70 percent lower than the national average, based on life cycle data from EcoInvent, the Global Feed LCA Institute and AgriFootprint.

Around the same period, Bunge Brazil also secured certification for sustainable soybeans used in Sustainable Aviation Fuel. SCS Global Services granted the certification under the ISCC CORSIA PLUS protocol, including the Low LUC seal.

Bunge said the seal confirms traceability and a low risk of indirect land use change for soybeans from its operations in Mato Grosso and Goiás, with a focus on zero deforestation and lower emissions.

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