11th April 2024

On 10 April, our Head of South America, Livia Ignacio, and Gustavo Rattes de Castro, President, of the Organization of Cane Producers Associations in Brazil (ORPLANA) signed a Cooperation Agreement to work together towards greater sustainability in the sugarcane sector in Brazil. The agreement includes commitments to share knowledge and collaborate on sustainability initiatives.

A major market for sugarcane sustainability

According to Statista, Brazil is the world’s largest producer of sugar and the second largest producer of ethanol. Given the scale of production in Brazil, driving sustainability in the sector is essential, but to succeed, we need to collaborate. Brazil also represents Bonsucro’s biggest market. We have 69 members in the country, 87 certified mills and three independently certified farmers associations, which collectively produce around 96 million tonnes of certified sugarcane – 86% of the global volume of Bonsucro certified sugarcane.

ORPLANA represents sugarcane producing associations. It was founded with the purpose of organising producers and increasing their representation both in Brazil and abroad. ORPLANA’s mission is to ensure a secure and profitable future for sugarcane producers seeking excellence in agricultural production and coordination of the sugar-energy chain.

What does the agreement mean?

The new Cooperation Agreement covers knowledge sharing, capacity building, sustainability tools, policy engagement, and communications.

Bonsucro convenes the sugarcane sector across the world and an important part of that role is to create environments in which our members can learn from one another. Sharing information and collective action are essential to accelerating sustainability.

We have agreed to share best practices and research findings in relation to sustainable sugarcane and bioenergy production. For example, we will share data and information on efficient agricultural practices, water conservation, biofuels, waste management, strategies to optimise energy, and best practices in human rights and decent work. The collaboration could cover any sustainability topic.

Further to sharing information, the cooperation agreement sets out ideas to work together to deliver workshops, training programs, and seminars. We want to enable the sector to use the information and knowledge that are being shared. This will help enhance the capacity of sugarcane farmers, farmers’ associations, and other stakeholders in adopting sustainable practices.

We will ensure that all methods for capacity development are aligned with our strategic aims to Create value across the supply chain; Improve the environmental impact of sugarcane; and Strengthen human rights and decent work in sugarcane farming and milling. These initiatives will focus on promoting environmentally friendly and socially responsible approaches in sugarcane cultivation, processing, and bioenergy production.

Commenting on the new partnership, Livia said:

“It is an immense pleasure to see this cooperation agreement taking shape. It practically translates into a robust structure all the work that Bonsucro and Orplana have been doing together over the past years. With this partnership we want to go even further and maximize the positive impact on the sugarcane sector while exploring opportunities for the sustainable sugarcane farmers to the fullest.”

The cooperation agreement was signed in Brasilia at a drinks reception at Orplana’s Cana Summit event, that took place on 10 and 11 April 2024.

To find out more about our work in Brazil, contact our Brazil Coordinator, Natalia Pinheiro Cera at natalia@bonsucro.com.