Responsible sourcing of soy
The Nordic market is a major purchaser of sustainable and deforestation-free soy. Our strict requirements for
traceability is originally linked to the prohibition of non-genetically modified raw materials, but since then it has
been possible to incorporate new requirements for sustainability, social conditions, ethics, and the environment.
Teaming up with the farmers
Soybeans are the world’s most important source of protein. They can be used in food and other foodstuffs, but 95 percent of all soy production is allocated for animal feed
At Denofa we produce meal, oil and lecithin from the soybeans.
The Nordic climate is not optimal for the production of plant protein due to low sunlight and low temperatures. However, we cultivate grass, wheat, oats, and other crops that can be effectively used in animal feed. To fully utilize the Norwegian grain, farmers still need to add additional protein.
Soybean meal has an exceptionally high protein concentration compared to other crops. Therefore, this is an attractive raw material for use in feed production. By adding soy, farmers in Norway (and Sweden) achieve much greater utilization of their own grain crops for animal feed.
The quality of Denofa’s soy products is world class. We supply natural, non-genetically modified beans and have full traceability throughout the entire value chain. This means that we can trace the products from seed production, cultivation, and harvesting to transportation, storage, further processing in Norway, and outbound logistics. With this traceability system, we can also guarantee that our soybeans are not linked to deforestation in the rainforests of Brazil, and that a number of other sustainability criteria are met.
Soy from Denofa contribute to a safe and sustainable food production, with increased utilization of Norwegian raw materials.
What are soybeans?
Soybeans are one of the worlds most important raw materials. Globally, more than 350 million tons of soybeans are produced every year. Although soybeans originally came from Southeast Asia, today the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Argentina account for over 80% of the world’s production. Most of it is exported to China. European countries import roughly 10%. Norway import just 0,2% of the global volumes.
Soybeans are a crucial source of protein and vegetable oil, and they are used as ingredients in a wide range of products for both food and animal feed.
Natural and GMO free
Global soy production is dominated by genetically modified plants (GMO). In Norway, where regulations are stricter, it is, however, only permitted to import non-genetically modified soybeans.
Denofa’s supply lines are therefore based on a comprehensive system called «Identity Preservation (IP)» to avoid contamination from genetically modified beans. All stages in the supply chain, from the seeds at individual farms to finished soybeans at the shipping port, are subject to rigorous control.
Meal, oil & lecithin
Every year, Denofa imports approximately 450,000 tons of soybeans from Brazil (60-80%), as well as Canada and the USA (20-40%), which are processed into meal, oil, and lecithin at the facility in Fredrikstad. The largest share of Denofa’s volumes is used to make high-quality feed for production animals. By adding our nutritious feed concentrate, Norwegian cattle farmers can use their own grain or grass and still provide a complete diet for their cows.
Norwegian soy import
Norwegian soy import accounts for only 0.2% of global production. Nevertheless, we are a major player in the market for sustainable soy, accounting for approximately 17% of the deforestation-free and sustainably certified soy imported. All of the soy Denofa imports from Brazil is RTRS- and ProTerra-certified. Our advanced traceability system provides us with full control over our own value chain.
Food safety
When processing raw materials for use in food or feed, it is vital to have solid routines. At our laboratory in Fredrikstad, we conduct various analyses to uncover any potential errors or damages. Denofa is certified in accordance with the food safety standard FSSC 22000 and the feed safety standard GMP+/B2. In addition, our products are certified as Halal and Kosher.