DECATUR, ILL. — Archer Daniels Midland Co. has achieved the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (I.S.C.C.), a designation that allows the company to provide Europe with I.S.C.C.-certified sustainable soy that meets the European Union’s new Renewable Energy Directive (EU-RED) requirements. ADM said it will process up to 250,000 tonnes of sustainable soybeans at its crushing facilities in Hamburg and Mainz, Germany, by this fall.

“The I.S.C.C. allows ADM to maintain our leadership position in the importation of soybeans to the European market while encouraging sustainable farming practices among growers,” said Jake Beaverson, general manager of ADM European Soybean Crushing. “ADM is committed to the responsible, sustainable development of agriculture. Through this certification, we will be able to meet the increased demand for products that have been sustainably sourced and responsibly processed.”

To qualify for certification, companies must meet strict criteria for sustainable biomass and biofuels production, as well as reduced emissions of greenhouse gases over the entire production chain. As part of the certification process, ADM and select farmers in South America underwent intensive audits to evaluate the sustainability of their business practices and processes, as well as traceability within the supply chain. ADM then worked directly with growers to implement best practices to meet certification requirements for export to the European market.

The I.S.C.C. was developed to guarantee that biofuels and biomass for biofuels are produced in compliance with recent E.U. legislation that required, by January 2011, that all biofuels and biomass in Germany to be certified according to the EU-RED requirements. The E.U. established the new RED legislation to enforce social, labor and environmental requirements for the production and importation of biofuels.

“While the demand for certified materials is driven by the biofuels market, we also anticipate a growing need for sustainable soy in the food and feed markets,” Mr. Beaverson said. “Through our sourcing operations in South America, our processing facilities in Europe and our extensive logistics network that links the two, ADM will continue to meet the evolving needs of European customers.”