Delegates are also examining how intra-African trade agreements are unlocking new growth opportunities for the sector.
One of the central messages emerging from the conference is the urgent need for responsible and sustainable practices in sugar production. Mike Ogg, Africa Regional Head of Bonsucro, a global platform for sustainable sugarcane, emphasised that sustainability is not only an environmental imperative but also a strategic business advantage.
“I think sustainability is not only the sugar industry’s responsibility, but really everyone’s responsibility,” said Ogg. “We’re living in a world with limited resources and growing populations, and we need to produce more with less.”
He noted that sustainability has often been misunderstood as a costly burden, but conversations at the conference have shown that the opposite is true. “Doing the right thing creates a more viable business. Buyers and consumers are now demanding visibility and accountability around sustainability, so the conclusion really is that sustainability is good for business,” Ogg explained.
Bonsucro has introduced a climate action toolkit to help producers measure, mitigate, and manage their environmental impact. The toolkit includes a greenhouse gas calculator, a science-based emissions reduction tool, and a forthcoming climate vulnerability and resilience-building tool. These tools aim to align African sugar producers with the global goal of limiting warming to below 1.5°C as set out in the Paris Agreement.
“If you can’t measure, you can’t manage,” Ogg stressed. “These tools give producers a clear idea of how much they need to reduce emissions and how to build resilience. With the right approach, producers can even access green climate funding.”
As climate challenges continue to disproportionately impact African countries, the push for sustainability is becoming more urgent than ever. Ogg concluded: “We in Africa are often not the cause of climate change, but we suffer the largest consequences. That’s why building climate resilience is so critical.”
--ChannelAfrica--
