In 2002 Grupo Andre Maggi was the world’s largest soybean producer with total planted area exceeding 160.0000 hectares in the State of Mato Grosso in the Amazon biome. The corporation also acted as a trading house and was a major player in the international soybean market. To achieve this, it financed over 600 third party farms. It operated two vegetable oil plants as well as strategic logistic assets which included a navigation company operating in the Madeira River waterway and port facilities on the Amazon River.
IFC approved a loan to Amaggi Group with purpose of providing finance to its supply chain. This generating a negative reaction of international NGOs who understood that, indirectly, IFC was financing the deforestation of the Amazon Region. Consequently, IFC required Amaggi to develop and implement an Integrated Environmental and Social Management System (ESHS-MS) covering not only its own operations, but also focused on governance procedures over its supply chain. JGP developed this system by executing a comprehensive analysis of the agricultural regions from which soy was being sourced. Agricultural practices, working conditions and environmental and social risks were verified. The ESHS-MS included the development of Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) standards which, at a later date, were incorporated into the RTRS (Round Table on Responsible Soy) standard.
Subsequently, JGP supported Amaggi in obtaining ISO 14001 certification for the ESHS-MS, and continued to support maintenance of this Certification until 2009.