Certified discourse? The politics of developing soy certification standards

► The RTRS initiates a standards development process for establishing certification criteria for responsible soy. ► The Discourse Coalition Framework is used to analyze the political impacts of discourse within the RTRS process. ► Discourse, not beliefs, is the basis of the RTRS policy coalition. ► Effective challenges to the RTRS is made at the level of discourse, but has compromised widespread participation in the RTRS. ► Shifting alliances are enabled by broad discourse, consolidating power in debates about soy production.