Sugar-cane to have international certification
Valor Econômico
Pushed by the international community on the sustainability of its production, the sugar and alcohol sector, led by Brazil, is getting ready to make use of a global certification that assures the best agricultural, environmental and social practices.
Known as Better Sugarcane Initiative (BSI), the action started being elaborated three years ago and gathers major sugar and alcohol producers and consumers, like Coca-Cola, Shell and BP, besides financers (IFC, affiliated of the World Bank) and non-governmental organizations (WWF among others). In March, a preliminary version of principles, criteria and indicators was published and now it goes through the analysis of public consultations. The expectation is that in November this year these new rules are approved by the General Meeting of the BSI, which will be held in London. "The certification should begin in 2010", affirms Geraldine Kutas, international adviser of the Sugar Cane Industry Union (Unica), headquartered in São Paulo. "Nearly 70% of the world sector of sugar cane is involved in the initiative. We want it to be a ‘mainstream' business, not only a niche".
According to her, the initial idea of the group contemplated only the certification of sugar. But the questions about the sustainability of ethanol ended up extending the discussions about the product. The main criticism of these countries is that the expansion of the sugar cane forces other crops to move other areas of the country that are still preserved, like the Amazon.
"The certification will open new markets", says Luis Fernando Guedes Pinto, superintendent of Imaflora, which will also participate in the certification of sugar cane in the country. From Monday on, the entity will start auditing Brazilian properties producing sugar cane and soy under the Rainforest Alliance seal, created by the System of Sustainable Agriculture in the 90's. The international seal already exists for perennial crops like coffee, cocoa, banana and tea. In Brazil, Imaflora is the only institution capable to audit the projects. "There are more than 40, basically producing coffee", says Guedes Pinto.