Mackay

Field Trip – Mackay

BREAKFAST WORKSHOP

Bruce Turner
Deputy Director-General, Agriculture and Food
Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation

Denise Knight, Director of the Sustainable Agriculture at The Coca-Cola Company and Bonsucro Board Director explained The Coca-Cola Company’s commitment to sustainability. The company’s partnership with Project Catalyst, intersects with key components of their long-term Sustainable Community strategy (water, sustainable agriculture, sugar cane and community partnership are all key focus areas). Coca-Cola is investing in Project Catalyst to reduce the environmental footprint of sugar, one of the key ingredients in its range of beverages, while at the same time contributing to replenish goals set under the company's water commitments. The partnership and active membership of Bonsucro shows leadership through innovation in the key environmental impact area of sustainable agriculture.

Davi Alencar de Araújo, Raízen’s Corporate HSSE and Certifications Manager presented a positive case for ethanol and accompanying focus on the sustainability activities of Raízen – the joint venture with Shell and Cosan, the World’s largest sugarcane producer.

Project Catalyst – Field Trip

Delegates were given a rare opportuntity to see at first hand the Australian Sugarcane Industry and through the Project Catalyst programme had direct interaction with farmers
Project Catalyst is  partnership which seeks to;

• The project is ‘grower led’ and involves a group of innovative farmers  that are developing, testing and extending management practices that improve the quality of the water leaving the farm gate, improve farm economic viability and enhance rural regional community sustainability and resilience. 
  
  A big thank you is extended to Chris & Lee Blackburn, Deguara Family and Tony Bugeja for opening their homes and explaining paddocks to Bonsucro. 
  A specific thank you must go to ‘Barb’ for the most splendid morning tea, it would put the Ritz to shame.
  
  To learn more about Project Catalyst and Reef Catchments click here.....
  
  Thanks also goes to Mackay Sugar who eloquently described the processing of sugarcane and provided delegates with an exclusive viewing of one of Queensland’s sugarcane mill and refinery. 

The BSES research station provided the international delegates with an overview of the history, future operations of the research stations and what key Research and Development activities are undertaken and are aligned to sustainable practices. 

Quotes from delegates:

Brisbane

GLOBAL INNOVATION SEMINAR - launched the Grower’s Network


Bonsucro launched a new global network which hopes to create connections and build stronger bonds across the sugar cane industry in an attempt to close the innovation gap. The network will create a forum for farmers and millers to learn from each other to solve common problems.

The forum and platform will be used to validate new innovations as well as build capacity amongst farmers to achieve the standard and go beyond.

The network will be able to help take Project Catalyst to other parts of the world and bring other innovations of the world to Project Catalyst.

The network will involve farmers from almost all the sugar producing continents.

Bonsucro Conference – attended by 90 People.

Quotes from delegates:



"By far the best conference to date!"

"All great for different reasons"

"All presentation of Innovation section, I had the opportunity to compare different realities"

"Panel discussion, global discussion on sustainable issues"

"Kraft - Identifying future trends, made the link to the end user and emphasised the urgency"



Annual General Meeting




Celebrating our Progress –

view video

 

Farewell to David Willers



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David Willers - presented with the first-ever Bonsucro Sustainability Award.




Articles of Association




Nick Goodall Chief Executive – Looking Forward



Core Focus 2012

A structured opportunity was created for members to meet with Board members and solicit their opinions on topics such as – Certification, Relationships, Public Profile and the Global Producer Innovation Network.  They were specifically asked to answer the following:



-	What are the threats/barriers and challenges?
-	How can members work together?
-	What should the secretariat’s priority be?
-	Give ideas for addressing the above





AGM Dinner


The Kookaburra River Queen Paddlewheel cruised the Brisbane River and gave delegates the opportunity to relax, enjoy the sights of Brisbane and unwind.