Convening conversations on deforestation

Convening conversations on deforestation and its remediation in sugar

The promotion of biodiversity and prevention of deforestation are key elements within the Sustainable Agriculture priority of the Tate & Lyle Sugars sustainability strategy. This topic is important for the role it can play in climate change prevention and mitigation as well for community wellbeing.

We recognise the complexities and contradictions inherent in this issue and this is why Tate & Lyle Sugars and Nestle asked Proforest to convene a conversation on deforestation and its remediation in sugar. The series of workshops is a cross-industry initiative involving a range of stakeholders, including customers, suppliers and NGOs.

Although sugarcane production is not considered to be a major driver of deforestation, we want to take a leadership position on sustainable sugarcane production and understand its root causes to help prevent it in our industry.

While development of new sugarcane production areas leads to increased livelihoods for farmers and workers, it is imperative that this does not come at the expense of natural forests and ecosystems and biodiversity.

Over 55 attendees across the two sessions discussed how we define deforestation, why it is important we understand its root causes, and what existing tools have been developed in other industries to identify and mitigate deforestation that could be adapted and used in the sugar industry.