Life as a small-scale sugar producer is far from sweet, even if you have the backing of the world’s leading sustainability label. Sugar growers face a perfect storm of climate change, volatile markets, changing demand and rising costs — but they’re fighting back with the help of the Fairtrade Sugar Climate Action Programme.

The programme builds on recommendations from six years’ worth of independent carbon and water footprint studies, including measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), save water and improve soil health — all while cutting costs and boosting crop yields.

“Each project is tailored to specific local needs and ambitions,” says Monika Berresheim, Senior Advisor for Sugar at Fairtrade International. “But they all aim to make sugar supply chains more resilient to climate change and market volatility whilst cutting water use and reducing carbon emissions. That’s what I call a win-win!”

Berresheim is right to be fired up. The programme kicked off in 2020 and already notched up some impressive achievements. Initial results from Belize, for example, the introduction of solar-powered irrigation to increase yield suggest water savings of up to 60 percent using drip-feed irrigation with neutral carbon emissions. In Malawi, two co-ops are also trialling solar power to reduce reliance on traditional rain-fed irrigation and to bypass the power outages which are a common feature of rural life. 

Sugar farmers in Eswatini have embraced irrigation scheduling software to track water and energy use and to analyse the cost benefit of solar powered irrigation. Early results indicate water volumes falling by around 20 percent. “Water stewardship is a key part of the programme,” adds Berresheim. “In some drought-prone sugar-growing regions, irrigation can account for up to 65 percent of all water use.” 

In Fiji, Fairtrade sugar growers face the opposite problem: too much water. Based on carbon and water footprint study recommendations, the Lautoka Cane Producers Association has repaired drains to reclaim flooded land, with farmers reporting waterlogging down by 75 percent, higher yields, fewer crop losses and easier access to fields. The community has also seen a fall in water-borne diseases.

Expensive imported fertilisers account for up to 45 percent of all emissions from some Fijian sugar farms. Looking to cut both costs and carbon, Fairtrade co-ops are trialling the use of agricultural lime on 20 pilot plots to reduce soil acidity and increase crop yields. Soil testing suggests pH levels rose from 4.5 to 5.8, and farmers report that lime is cheaper and more effective than imported fertiliser. 

Farmers in Eswatini have significantly reduced emissions using organic fertilisers, cover cropping and green cane harvesting. Carbon emissions, performance, costs and quality are monitored and recorded, and farmers encouraged to invest in a carbon reduction roadmap with targets. A similar project in India found that organic cultivation resulted in higher yields and better soil health while reducing emissions by approximately 500 kg of carbon per hectare compared to conventionally farmed plots. In Mauritius, Fairtrade-certified sugar co-ops saw yields rise by 3.7 tonnes per hectare after replacing imported fertiliser applications with biofertiliser produced by the local industry to boost soil nitrogen uptake.

“Fairtrade sugarcane producers already tend to have very low emissions,” explains Berresheim. “In some cases, farms are approaching net zero. Fairtrade sugar buyers, traders and brands could use this data to help them meet EU decarbonisation and sustainability requirements.”  So far, limited funding means most projects have been pilots or small-scale trials.

“Climate-resilient and sustainable sugarcane production requires localised, multi-faceted approaches. Fairtrade sugar growers are taking action to reduce emissions whilst increasing their productivity and resilience to climate change. But especially smallholder farmers face persistent challenges by changing weather patterns, raising costs, land management and technology take-up.”

The market volatility with fluctuating prices is difficult for small-scale Fairtrade sugar growers. “Their investment decisions depend on the income from each harvest,” says Berresheim. “Fairtrade welcomes collaboration of businesses to amplify our collective impact which strengthens sugar supply chains. Fairtrade’s Sugar Climate Action Programme doesn’t just benefit farmers, it’s for the entire sugar industry.”

Beyond climate: strengthening human rights and labour practices

Climate change and human rights are the two major risks affecting the global sugar sector, including Fairtrade sugar. Alongside its climate programme, Fairtrade addresses social risks through the Better Labour Practices (BLP) programme, which strengthens human rights and labour practices across the sector.

This programme works with Fairtrade sugar producer organisations in countries with high risks of human rights violations or risks to vulnerable individuals. Sugar smallholders rely heavily on seasonal cane cutters during the harvest period, and increasing labour shortages in many Fairtrade sugar-producing countries further heighten these risks.

Targeting producers, workers, and traders, and aims to mitigate unacceptable labour practices such as child or forced labour, gender-based violence, and other forms of workplace exploitation. It combines training on Fairtrade Standards compliance with Producer Network support and targeted projects on better labour practices, aligned with government regulations and relevant industry and business codes of conduct.

Please read about the amazing change brought about at origin through this programme. 

For more details on all the projects mentioned above, see our new Sugar Climate Action Programme factsheet or contact Monika Berresheim, Senior Advisor, Fairtrade International.