1 October 2025
ARISE IIP Africa’s first ProTerra-certified soybean supply chain: A milestone achieved through partnership
In the evolving landscape of sustainable agriculture, partnerships are key to driving meaningful change. One such collaboration between ARISE IIP and Proforest is setting a new benchmark for responsible sourcing and compliance in Africa’s soybean supply chain.
Subramanian Rajendran, who leads Agribusiness and Sustainability at ARISE IIP, shares the journey of this impactful partnership:
“Before partnering with Proforest, we were at a very primitive stage of understanding how the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) works globally. We were trying to piece together insights from various stakeholders, but nothing gave us the clarity we needed.”
ARISE IIP, committed to pioneering non-GMO and organic soybean meal production, partnered with Proforest to strengthen its soybean supply chain and ensure compliance with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and other international sustainability standards.
“It’s been a pleasure to engage with the Proforest team, their strategic and technical approach to our goals has been exceptional. They go the extra mile to ensure we get the results we’re aiming for,” Rajendran notes.
From the initial baseline assessment to the development of a comprehensive action plan, Proforest provided hands-on support to streamline ARISE IIP’s systems and processes in line with global sustainability standards. This collaborative effort not only positioned the company for international compliance but also marked a significant milestone in its journey toward responsible and transparent sourcing and production.
Proforest helped us identify gaps and guided us through development. Thanks to their thorough analysis, we achieved ProTerra certification which is essential for our growth in the European market and validates our commitment to sustainability.
This certification marked a historic achievement for the ARISE IIP team. With this support and technical assistance coupled with the company’s strong supply chain infrastructure, Benin Agribusiness became the first major African business to receive ProTerra certification.
“This opens opportunities to introduce soybean meal from Africa into Europe. It’s a game-changer for us,” says Rajendran.
Beyond compliance, the partnership has had ripple effects across ARISE IIP’s broader goals and community impact helping them achieve long-term sustainability and commercialisation aimed at enhancing the livelihoods of stakeholders across their supply chain.
When reflecting on the collaboration, Rajendran highlights Proforest’ deep technical expertise and its thoughtful, client-focused approach. He says, “the team’s dedication to understanding ARISE IIP’s needs stood out throughout the engagement.” Looking ahead, ARISE IIP envisions expanding the partnership across geographies and commodities.
“We see this collaboration growing into new areas of our operations. We want to work with Proforest for the long term, aligned with our mission to make Africa thrive.”
Proforest plays a central role in helping to convene and facilitate several of these collaborations, combining our deep understanding of how companies work with our local knowledge in different landscapes.
