Sustainability initiatives for the sugar industry

SUGARCANE has been cultivated for human and animal consumption for over 500 years. About 80 percent of sugar produced from sugarcane is cultivated in 110 countries, covering approximately 27 million hectares that produce an annual average of some 170 million tons.

Sugarcane is planted in around 65 million acres of land worldwide with a dozen countries using at least 25 percent of their farmland to grow it. The industry contributes significantly to gross domestic product in major sugarcane-producing economies like the Philippines and is one of the biggest livelihood providers because it supports millions of farmers.