Bonsucro reserves the right to make alterations to the programme as circumstances require.
12:30-17:00 Registration
Come to pick up your delegate pass and conference materials, and say hello to the Bonsucro team.Â
We will be closing online registration at 12:00pm midnight (Mexican Time) on 18 May. If you wish to register after this, we will offer in-person registration at our registration desk.Â
17:00-18:00 Optional networking
Ahead of the drinks reception, we will run a networking activity to help our attendees get to know each other.
18:00-21:00 Welcome drinks
Meet your fellow delegates during our opening drinks reception.Â
09:00 Welcome - Chair of Bonsucro
Melanie Rutten-Sülz, the interim Chair of Bonsucro’s board, will address the audience to begin Bonsucro Global Week. She will talk about the role of Bonsucro as the global sustainability platform for sugarcane, and the importance of coming together to learn from each other’s experiences.
Melanie Rutten-Sülz, interim Chair, Bonsucro Board of Directors
09:15 Opening ceremony
The opening ceremony marks the start of the Bonsucro Global Week conference programme. Key players in the Mexican sugarcane sector will welcome delegates to Cuernavaca in the state of Morelos – the sugarcane region in Mexico known for excellent yields and high sucrose content. They will provide insights into how Mexico takes a collaborative approach to sustainability and why that breeds success. That includes: understanding the significance of smallholder farmers; how the national farmers’ unions help connect the farmers with the mills and global brands; and how the government takes a proactive role to ensure the sector adapts as needed. By working together, they ensure that Mexico remains one of the biggest producing sugarcane producing countries in the world.
Carlos Blackaller, Presidente, Union Nacional de Cañeros, A. C. CNPR
Javier Sanchéz, Presidente, Unión Nacional de Productores de Caña de Azúcar, A. C.
Luis Ramiro Garcia, Director General, Comité Nacional para el Desarrollo Sustentable de la Caña de Azúcar
Humberto Jasso, Director Ejecutivo, Cámara Nacional de la Industria Azucarera y Alcoholera
09:35 Bonsucro CEO opening address
Danielle Morley, Bonsucro’s CEO, will share reflections on the sector and progress that we have collectively made to drive sustainability since Bonsucro Global Week in Brazil in October 2022. She will share some highlights, achievements, and ideas on where the sector is heading. She will also outline her expectations for the week and the event.
Danielle Morley, CEO, Bonsucro
09:50 One community, many voices
This first plenary will set the tone and ambition for the conference.
Our panelists will explore whether it is possible to have one shared agenda on sustainability in the sugarcane sector given the many different production conditions, sector maturity and market access and opportunities.
Alex Bjork, Senior Director, Private Sector Engagement, World Wildlife Fund
Beatriz Milliet, Sustainability Executive Manager, Copersucar S.A
Juan Carlos Fernandez, CEO, Central America Sugar Association – AICA
Diane Stevenson, Director of Sustainability, CSC SugarightÂ
Karen Thivya Lourdes, Global Sustainable Sourcing Lead, Sugar & Coconut, Nestlé
11:15 Coffee break
11:45 Deep dive into Mexican sugarcane sector
Mexico is one of the main sugar producers worldwide and a priority partner for one of the largest markets: the United States. The importance of the sector, however, is matched by its complexity. Cane production is based on smallholders who, together with the mills, are the key actors in achieving sustainability. At the same time, new opportunities for sugarcane derivatives are emerging in fields such as beauty products, spirits drinks and biofuels.
Hear from local industry experts about the challenges that the Mexican sugarcane industry is facing, and what their sustainability roadmap looks like.
Luis Ramiro Garcia, Director, National Committee for Sugarcane
Maricruz Rodriguez, Sustainable and Human Rights Manager Americas, Mars Wrigley
BenjamÃn Sandoval, Country Manager for Mexico, Bonsucro
13:00 Certification stories from around the world: Brazil
For many producers, achieving Bonsucro certification is the culmination of several years of hard-work and investment. Bonsucro Global Week will be punctuated by short certification stories from around the world.
Fabio Soldera, Sustainability Manager, Canaoeste
13:15 Lunch
14:45 Breakout sessions
| Are high sugar prices bad for sustainability? | What does regenerative agriculture mean and why is it important? | Workshop: Achieving Bonsucro 5.2 certification – what have we learnt so far? |
|---|---|---|
| When sugar prices are high, are buyers reluctant to pay more for sustainable sugarcane? What do you think?
We are bringing a lively debate on a challenging topic to Bonsucro Global Week. In this session we are going to ask how market conditions and prices impact sustainability in the sugarcane sector. Is there more return on investment or value for certified products for different actors in the supply chain? Kiran Wadhwana, Bonsucro Board of Directors Steffany Bermudez, Policy Advisor, Sustainability Standards, International Institute for Sustainable Development Ines Amenabar Cordon, Corporate Responsible Development, Grupo Pantaleon |
What does regenerative agriculture actually mean?
There are many different approaches and theories. But for the sugarcane sector to align on the subject, should we work with one approach? In this session, we will first hear from subject experts on the different definitions of regenerative agriculture, before asking different supply chain actors about their strategies for building and contributing to regenerative systems. These actors include an agriculture solutions company, a large-scale farmer and a big global brand. Robyn Cooper, Crops Manager, SAI Platform Thiago Fraga, Vice President New Ag Business Development, Yara Robert Quirk, Independent Farmer from Australia |
The Bonsucro Standards and Assurance team will lead an interactive workshop with certification bodies and mills on the implementation of version 5.2 of the Bonsucro Production Standard. During this workshop, we will identify common challenges, and create a space for the audience to share their experiences and enable us to learn from each other and come up with practical solutions.
Paula de Donati Porto, Standards Manager, Bonsucro |
16:00 Coffee break
16:30 Member-only town hall meeting
This is a fantastic opportunity for our members to interact with the Board and the Members’ Council – the body representing them among Bonsucro’s governance. Members will have the chance to share their priorities and the challenges they are facing. They will also have the chance to offer their views on how Bonsucro can remain relevant, continue to convene the sector to drive change, and deliver value for our global community.
16:30 Embracing innovation, how we can utilise technology to track, test, and transform sustainable practices in sugarcane
With growing concerns about the impact of the climate on sugarcane production, it’s clear that we cannot continue with business as usual. Weather patterns are changing and yields are unpredictable – the time to act is now! But to really transform the sector, it’s time to embrace some of the innovations and technologies available. In this session, we hear from sugarcane farmers and millers that are trialling new approaches with the use of data and technology. We will also hear from organisations offering solutions.
18:00 Free time
There are no official activities planned. Delegates are free to make their own plans or schedule their own meetings.
09:00 Plenary: From field to fuel, from farm to plate: is it possible and profitable to make sustainable sugarcane more traceable?
Traceability is an important way for procurement teams to know the sugarcane products they are buying are sustainable. Traceability also allows companies to be transparent about their sustainability performance and the concrete actions they are undertaking to reduce their social and environmental supply chain risks. This session looks into the feasibility of tracing sugar, ethanol, and molasses back to origin. We will hear more about some of the innovations that are being piloted in our sector and beyond.
Julia Clark, Director, Sugar Ethics, Tate & Lyle SugarsÂ
Julian Fox, Director, Nature Programmes, Tetra Pak
Roshan Tamak, Executive Director & CEO – Sugar Business, DCM Shriram
Martin Clemesha, Technical Advocacy Lead, Braskem
10:15 Certification stories from around the world: Mexico
For many producers, achieving Bonsucro certification is the culmination of several years of hard-work and investment. Bonsucro Global Week will be punctuated by short certification stories from around the world.
10:30 Spotlight on sustainable fuels
Transportation is one of the biggest polluters and accounts for around a quarter of global energy-related CO2 emissions. But the shift away from fossil fuels in the transport sector is no longer a pipe dream, new developments are being announced at a rapid pace.
Looking to bio-based fuels creates opportunities for sugarcane farmers and millers. In this session, we look at how sustainable aviation and maritime fuels are creating new market opportunities.
Beatriz Millet, Sustainability Executive Manager, Copersucar
10:45 Coffee break
11:15 Breakout sessions
| All things ethanol and the state of sustainability | Taking advantage of global trends – driving responsibility in rum | Workshop: Deep dive into Bonsucro’s ClimateCane Tracker |
|---|---|---|
| Sustainable aviation fuels, second generation biofuels, and blending mandates all gaining momentum, but not all biofuels are created equal. If companies are looking to cut their use of fossil fuels and switch to plant-based ethanol, it’s essential to consider how these plants, like sugarcane, are produced. Luckily, with these shifts in the market, we’re seeing a positive impact on sustainable ethanol. In fact, Bonsucro-certified ethanol increased by 19% between the 2020-21 season and the 2021-22 season. We’re also seeing an increase in the trade of certified ethanol. But we believe there is a lot of potential for our members still to be unlocked. In this session, we look at how Bonsucro is engaging with aviation fuels, biofuels, and policy around blending. We will look to our expert panel to discuss how the Bonsucro system needs to evolve to help support the transition away from fossil fuels.
Amance Boutin, Editor de CombustÃveis Brasil – Brazil Motor Fuels Editor Monique Mayumi Suguitani, Certification and Integrated Management System Coordinator, BP Bunge Michelle Morton, Independent Consultant Vijay Nirani, Managing Director, MRN Group |
According to Market Data Forecast, the global rum market was worth $15bn in 2020 and it’s predicted to grow to $21.5bn by 2025. A global rise in popularity for rum is good news for sugarcane producers. But if brands aren’t doing adequate due diligence on their supply chains, they could be buying sugarcane from producers that have poor working conditions, human rights violations and who contribute to damaging the environment. In this session, we delve into the trends in the molasses and rum sectors, including how new consumer trends and regulatory developments. We will also look at how Bonsucro members and the wider community can take advantage of rum’s popularity, and lead the way in making the sector more responsible.
Sasha-Monique Elvik, Senior Sustainability Advisor, Vinmonopolet Ruth Ascencio, Head of Central America, Mexico and Caribbean, Bonsucro |
Our ClimateCane Tracker helps sugarcane farms and mills, and the companies that source from them, to set a target and a clear pathway for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from sugarcane production in line with what’s needed to maintain a stable climate. It includes emissions from land management and land-use change, as well as on-farm carbon removals. During this workshop, we give attendees the chance to explore the tool and how it works.
Mike Ogg, Head of Africa and the Middle East, Bonsucro |
12:30 Lunch
14:00 Certification stories from around the world
For many producers, achieving Bonsucro certification is the culmination of several years of hard-work and investment. Bonsucro Global Week will be punctuated by short certification stories from around the world.
14:15 Plenary: Beyond due diligence and the importance of tapping into the power of collective action to protect and respect human rights in the sugarcane sector
Challenges around human rights still exist in some sugarcane supply chains, and so due diligence processes to identify, mitigate, and account for human rights risks and impacts are important. But to what extent is human rights due diligence already embedded in the sugarcane value chain? And is what exists enough to improve the sector’s performance on human rights? We will use this time to consider how we can encourage more collective action to address the systemic challenges that are at the root of many business-related human rights impacts.  Our experienced panellists will provide examples of their projects, innovations, and the importance of partnerships to create change.
Ryan Carrington, Senior International Labor Advisor for Trade Policy, U.S. Department of LaborÂ
Magnolia Matus Rodriguez, Manager for EQUAL project, World Vision Mexico
Isabella Tonaco, Bonsucro Board of Directors
15:15 Coffee break
15:45 Breakout sessions
| Showcasing the Bonsucro Impact Fund | How can we harness the power of the finance sector to strengthen the business case for sustainability and Bonsucro certification? | Workshop: Building out Bonsucro’s Smallholder Roadmap |
|---|---|---|
| The Bonsucro Impact Fund supports projects that address critical sustainability challenges in the sugarcane sector. The Fund has been running for two years , awarded 14 grants supporting climate action, smallholder farmers, and human rights and decent work in the sector. In this session, you can see some of the projects come to life. Hear from grantees on how they have used the funding, and how the Bonsucro Impact Fund creates opportunities to learn from one another through its community of practice.
Michelle Morton, Independent Chair of Bonsucro Impact Fund Project Selection Committee Guilherme Martins, Customer Service Manager, Arable Acacio Masson Filho, Director of Sustainability, Assobari |
We know from experience that when Bonsucro members and supporters collaborate with the finance sector, it delivers real business benefits for both parties. This session will present three case studies illustrating how these win-win relationships can be established, replicated and scaled.
Rafael Bordonal Kalaki, CEO, Socicana –Sugarcane growers association of Guariba André Valente, Head of Sustainability, RaÃzen
|
Some of the world’s biggest sugarcane producing countries rely on smallholder farmers for most of their production volume, including Mexico, Thailand, India and Pakistan. To widen access to certification, we created a Production Standard for Smallholder Farmers in 2018. We recognise that to remain inclusive, we need to continuously adapt how we work and engage with those farmers producing sugarcane on a small scale. In this session we ask how we can hear from people on the ground, shift our focus, and ensure our systems work across the world, while also considering what we can learn from other sustainability schemes. |
17:00 Reflections from the week so far
After two days of thought provoking and insightful discussions, our CEO, Danielle Morley, will reflect on what we’ve learned. She will capture some of the lessons, ideas of what we can take away, and reflections on what lies ahead, and how we can ensure that the sugarcane sector remains viable and always striving to improve.
Danielle Morley, CEO, Bonsucro
17:30 - 19:30 Free time
Free time between the conference agenda and the Bonsucro Inspire Awards.
19:30 -22:30 Bonsucro Inspire Awards
Find out who wins the Bonsucro Inspire Awards 2024 and celebrate their success at the ceremony and dinner.
Field trip: Biofábrica Siglo XXI
This year Bonsucro Week attendees have the opportunity to visit Biofabrica Siglo XXI, one of the leading agro-biotechnological companies in Mexico. Through the development of agrobiotechnical alternatives they are encouraging more ecological, sustainable and profitable agricultural production models.
Attendees will learn about Biofabrica’s current project, supported by the Bonsucro Impact Fund, which focuses on restoring soil fertility and health through regenerative agriculture.
Agenda for the visit:
07:30 – Transfer from hotel to Biofábrica
08:00 – Welcome
Biofábrica will welcome attendees to their offices and laboratory. The team will talk about their results from work to improve the profitability and sustainability of agricultural production with the use of biofertilisers. They will specifically focus on a project awarded a grant from the Bonsucro Impact Fund, which has been carried out with their partners, The Coca-Cola Company and the National Sugar Cane Growers Union – CNPR.
09:30 – Tour of Biofábrica’s laboratory
Delegates will learn about the development process for Biofábrica’s products, made from beneficial microorganisms, such as fungi and bacteria, through the use of biotechnology.
10:00 –Â Food
11:00 – Transfer to CDT Tezoyuca
11:45 – Visit the sugarcane plantation and laboratory in groups
Delegates will visit the FIRA technological development center, including a laboratory for the reproduction of sugar cane through plant tissues. Delegates will also visit a demonstration plot set up specifically for the field trip, to see the impact of biofertilisers on sugarcane growth and hear directly from a producer using this technology to increase productivity.
14:30 – Bus to depart for Mexico City, stopping at the Fiesta Americana Hacienda San Antonio el Puente for anyone that doesn’t want onward travel to Mexico City.