29th July 2025

Smallholder farmers play a vital role in global sugarcane production. Although they typically manage just a few hectares of land, often through family-run operations or small teams of workers, they grow a significant share of the world’s sugarcane and are essential to supply chains and local economies.

But smallholders face increasing challenges. Access to finance, training and equipment can be harder to secure, and they are more vulnerable to climate risks, with extreme weather threatening both crops and livelihoods.

At Bonsucro, we are revising our Production Standard for Smallholder Farmers to better address these challenges and ensure smallholders are supported in producing sugarcane more sustainably and responsibly.

 

What is the Production Standard for Smallholder Farmers?

Launched in 2018, the Production Standard for Smallholder Farmers provides a clear, practical framework tailored to the needs of smaller producers.

The standard covers key sustainability areas, including responsible use of land, water and chemicals, compliance with local laws, and better working conditions. Smallholders are required to provide protective equipment, follow health and safety procedures and put in place fair employment practices, such as written contracts and ways for workers to raise concerns. They must also keep a diary to track key data over time.

Since its launch, more than 15,000 smallholder farmers have joined the Bonsucro system through this standard. It has enabled smallholders to show their commitment to sustainability and better conditions for workers, which are increasingly valued across supply chains.

In line with ISEAL’s five-year review cycle, we are updating the standard to ensure it remains relevant, practical and genuinely useful for smallholder farmers while aligning it with Bonsucro’s latest Production Standard.

 

Making the standard work better for farmers

Since its development, the Production Standard for Smallholder Farmers is not intended as a reduction of the Bonsucro Production Standard, as the scope of the core indicators remains the same. This current review aims to align it with the revised Bonsucro Production Standard v5.2 – adapting it to the realities of smallholders.

The revision process for this standard will include two public consultations and will continue over the next year, incorporating feedback, testing and input from within the Bonsucro network and beyond.

Our aim is to ensure the updated standard works better for smallholder farmers and everyone who uses it, from buyers and trainers to auditors and certification bodies.

The revision process will involve:

• Running a transparent and inclusive consultation to gather input from a broad range of stakeholders
• Putting feedback into action by carefully reviewing all input and using it to shape the updated standard
• Testing the revised standard through pilot audits to make sure it’s clear, auditable and effective in real-world settings
• Developing updated guidance, tools and training materials to support those applying and auditing the standard

Ritu Baruah, Bonsucro’s Country Manager for India and Pakistan, shared why the revision matters:

“When we first rolled out the Production Standard for Smallholder Farmers in India in 2018, it set the tone for stronger smallholder participation in Bonsucro. Today, India has the highest number of smallholders in our system. As the country moves forward with its Green Credit Programme, data will become even more important, yet many farmers still aren’t in the habit of keeping records. This revision gives us a chance to make the standard more relevant, practical and future-ready for smallholders on the ground.”

Ruth Asencio, Bonsucro’s Head of Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean, added:

“Smallholders are the backbone of a sustainable sugarcane industry in Mexico, and they are key to thriving communities across Central America and the Caribbean. The Bonsucro Production Standard for Smallholder Farmers is a strategic tool to recognise their efforts and support access to better markets and practices. But climate change, limited resources and unequal recognition in supply chains make it harder for small producers to stay resilient. There is still so much we can do. Support, training and meaningful inclusion in decision-making are essential. I hope to see a future where every producer can thrive with dignity, climate resilience and real opportunity.”

Mike Ogg, Bonsucro’s Head of Africa and the Middle East, also shared:

“Smallholder farmers are critical to many sugar industries across Africa. In many African countries, sugar milling companies and smallholder farmers have a strongly collaborative relationship, each relying on the other for their economic and social wellbeing. By using the Bonsucro Production Standard for Smallholder Farmers to measure and improve operations both at the mill and on the farm, this relationship is strengthened, ensuring the long-term sustainability and prosperity of both partners.”

 

Have your say

Bonsucro is inviting feedback on the design principles for the revised standard and how the criteria can better reflect smallholder realities.

The first public consultation is open from 1 August to 30 September. It’s a chance to share your views on what’s working, what needs improving, and what’s missing in the Bonsucro Production Standard for Smallholder Farmers.

We invite everyone to get involved. Your feedback will play a key role in shaping the first draft of the revised standard, which we plan to release for a second round of public consultation in March 2026. The final version of the updated standard is expected to be published in August 2026.

If you have specific questions on the Bonsucro Production Standard for Smallholder Farmers and its revision, please contact standards@bonsucro.com.

→ Take part in the first public consultation