Advancing the Sugarcane Industry under the concept of circularity in the context of climate change
The Ten-Year Framework Programmes (10YFP) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) organised a workshop on Nov15th-17th 2023, with the support and leadership of the government of Cuba – in concrete the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, and the “Azcuba” group. The workshop achieved the following objectives:
a) Promotion of a dialogue of experts in the agri-food and sugar sector, and exchange good international practices of sustainable consumption and production and circularity
b) Highlight the role of a circular sugar-cane value chain for climate action – presentation of the Cuban-led initiative for an “International Agrosugar Climate Alliance”- prior to its launch at COP 28
c) Start the development of a multi-country proposal for a UN joint implementation project
Es importante unir esfuerzos para promover la agroindustria de la caña de azúcar con un enfoque multidimensional de desarrollo, fomentando soluciones basadas en la naturaleza, involucrando a diferentes actores claves. Así trabajar propuestas conjuntas que generen impactos positivos desde un punto de vista económico, ambiental y social
It is important to join efforts to promote the sugar cane agroindustry with a multidimensional approach to development, promoting solutions based on nature, involving different key actors. Thus, work on joint proposals that generate positive impacts from an economic and environmental and social perspectives.
Fernando Hiraldo Resident Representative UNDP Cuba
REVALUATION OF THE SUGARCANE AGROINDUSTRY UNDER THE CONCEPT OF CIRCULARITY IN THE CONTEXT OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Sugarcane is a crop primarily grown in tropical countries and a global commodity produced throughout the tropics and used for sweeteners, biofuels, and a growing range of bio products (including bioplastics). Production is fragmented, with sugarcane grown in over 100 countries, occupying 23.8 million hectares of land worldwide. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), world sugar production in 2022/23 (October/September) is forecast at 177.5 million tonnes, up 1.9 million tonnes (1.1%), from 2021/22.
The sugarcane sector faces important challenges that affect economic and social development and sustainability. Environmental risks habitat degradation, land conversion, unsustainable water use, agrochemical use, soil health compaction and erosion, and greenhouse emissions.
A circular economy framework is therefore a strategic solution in the sugar cane value chain to reduce waste and promote resource efficiency.
Key workshop’s highlights
- Representation of at least 50 Participants from the sugarcane agroindustry sector and Ministries of Environment from 10 Countries (Brazil, South Africa, Mexico, Guatemala, Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Germany and Cuba), UN-wide representatives, and Cuban Ministries (CITMA, MINCEX, BCP, and MEP)
- The sugarcane value chain is relevant to activities of the following agencies that supported the development of the project: UNEP (10YFP Food Systems Programme, UNIDO, UNDP, GCF, ILO, ITC, WFP and UN-Habitat.
- Knowledge exchange with the following key outcomes:
- Assessed effectiveness of circular bioeconomy approaches at industry and national levels in at least 10 countries
- Common Mitigation and Adaptation measured potential across the value-chain in all participating countries
- Around 18 common Nature Based solutions being used and piloted consistently across value-chain (sustainable soil management, minimum tillage, contour planting, crop rotation, reforestation, green cutting, biomass coverage, use of crop residues, organic fertilizers, compost, biological pesticide control, animal food production, cogeneration of electricity, bioethanol, biogas and others)
- Common challenges across regions and stages of development
- Common social, economic and financial implications (dependencies on sugar-based products, high fuel and chemical consumption and social responsibility)
- Assessed role of public policies and incentives both at national and international levels
- Existence of innovative financing and technological schemes
- Common technological needs in particular gasification of biomass, and organic waste
- Around 11 identified science-based and innovation schemes with the potential to solve development needs (development of bioproducts/biofuels/and green hydrogen)
- Consensus of top common indicators to measure performance:
- Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission (t CO2 equiv
- Absorption or sequestration of GHG t (CO2 equivalent)
- Generation and use of energy from renewable sources (%)
- Revaluation of sugar cane (income or profit/ton)
- Water consumption
- Unused agroindustrial waste (%)
- Green jobs created (jobs)
- Number of beneficiaries
- Feedback received from over 15 international experts and representatives on the Alliance to be launched at COP 28
- Brainstorming session to define scope, objectives and expected impact of a regional project proposal (LAC region) with representatives of 6 countries (El Salvador, Guatemala, Argentina, Cuba, Mexico, and Colombia)
Experiences Shared by Participating countries and UN agencies
Proposal for an International Alliance for the circularity of a resilient and low-carbon sugar cane agroindustry (AGROAZUCAR CIRCULAR CLIMATE ALLIANCE).
vision
A positive value chain for people, nature and the climate, around sugar cane.
Principles
- It is established on a voluntary basis, with full respect for national circumstances, in the context of the priorities of the social economic development of each country;
- It consolidates a shared vision and commitments between agribusiness and the government where the value chain closes the production and consumption cycles;
- It is an space to partner with existing platforms and to learn from similar experiences in other value chains;
- It promotes food security and sustainable consumption approaches;
- Contributes to facing global crises regarding climate change, loss of biodiversity and pollution.
- It is industry-led and encouraged by multiple actors advocating and acting for circular bio-economy approaches (open to industry, governments, international organizations, scientific institutions and other stakeholders)
Goals of the Alliance
- It will seek to increase international cooperation, collaboration and investment in public and private research activities to: a. improve knowledge exchange, access and application of carbon mitigation and sequestration technologies and practices in the sugarcane agroindustry, also improving productivity and resilience and promoting synergies between adaptation and mitigation efforts;
- Develop the science, technology and innovation necessary to improve measurements and estimates of greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration in different agroindustrial systems, taking into account the differences between agricultural systems and specific environmental, social and economic contexts. the members;
- Facilitate the exchange of information and promote the development of new partnerships and exchange opportunities; facilitating a clear distinction and understanding between those issues required for intellectual protection and the information that must be subject to common use.
- Strengthen the exchange of strategic and technical knowledge, the development of capacities and skills for circular economy and circular bio-economy approaches in the sugarcane value chain;
- Develop partnerships with sector workers and their organizations, the private sector, international and regional research institutions, foundations and non-governmental organizations, to facilitate and improve the coordination of research and innovation activities, as well as share good practices and technologies.
- Will work to benefit the health, safety and quality of life of workers in the sector.
- Establish a support platform to bring together project developers and financing providers.
- It will work in a concerted manner to provide products and materials that sustainably satisfy consumer needs, promoting policies that ensure the certainty of these results.
- It will improve country exchange on implementation, best practices and lessons learned.
- It will deepen the studies and knowledge of the relationships between sugar production and health.
- It will identify and promote projects for the mobilization of resources linked to the sugar cane agroindustry, under the concept of circularity. To this end, it will help structure viable projects by acting as an incubator and accelerator and will strengthen the interface with innovative international financing schemes; At the same time, it will create a portfolio of financial investment projects that allow the transition towards circularity, for which it will seek and agree on support from international financial mechanisms.
- It will promote commitments – with full respect to national circumstances – to make the sugarcane sector more resilient and low in emissions, based on circularity and so that these efforts are recorded in the Nationally Determined Contributions. National Adaptation Plans, Biodiversity Strategies, SDG implementation mechanisms and other national and international policy documents.
- It will support a science-policy interface, based on indicators and impact measurement approaches relevant to climate, biodiversity and pollution.
For more information, please contact Waleska Guerrero
waleska.guerrero1@un.org