Whereas India is privileged to be the chair of ISO this yr, I’d additionally like to say that in September final yr, India spearheaded the World Biofuels Alliance to maximise efforts in the direction of decarbonisation and improve using ethanol, thereby bequeathing a cleaner world to future generations. My nation will proceed to speculate its greatest efforts to fulfill the aims set out and progressively advance in the direction of a clear setting.
We’re all conscious that the world is witnessing the deleterious impacts of world warming in type of extreme heatwaves and file temperatures on the Earth. It places an enormous accountability on all ISO member international locations in addition to the sugar and ethanol business to contribute to take the world in the direction of web zero. The time has come when sustainability has to maneuver past mere lip-service to turn out to be an intrinsic a part of our operations, getting embedded in its DNA.
For this to occur, sugar and ethanol sector must primarily give attention to a three-pronged technique. First, to develop drought resistant styles of sugarcane or varieties with low water consumption, secondly on water conservation in sugar manufacturing and final however not the least, taking the world in the direction of biofuels from fossil fuels.
From this viewpoint, numerous accountability is forged on each India and Brazil — the highest two producers of sugar with complete contribution of about 50 per cent of world sugar. By the way, each are affected by the phenomenon of El Nino and La-Nina. So the worldwide sugar provide cycle is both affected by decrease manufacturing of sugar in Brazil because of La-Nina or in India because of El Nino.
Subsequently, to make sure stability in world sugar provides, it’s essential for the sugar producers to collaborate in analysis and improvement in sugarcane in order that higher varieties, water environment friendly and appropriate for native situations with larger yield and sucrose content material could also be developed. Analysis and Improvement is one space, which wants concerted and synchronized efforts of main sugar producers on this planet.
Related requirement is for bio-fuels particularly ethanol and sustainable aviation gas (SAF). This may profit the sector by rising contribution to a greener planet in addition to commercially management the surplus provides of sugar to world market making the sugar costs secure and cheap for all stakeholders. In India, Nationwide Sugar Institute, Kanpur in addition to Indian Institute of Know-how (IIT), Kanpur are collaborating to arrange a Centre of Excellence for Biofuels which can undertake analysis initiatives on biofuels. India can be eager to collaborate with different international locations on this mission.
One other side which wants collaboration amongst ISO members is use of know-how in addition to information sharing. As of now, some business gamers have began utilizing fashionable applied sciences utilizing AI/ML for crop estimation in addition to harvest planning. However, these are remoted efforts with positive factors restricted to the respective firms. ISO shall present a platform to help its member international locations to make use of the applied sciences for his or her farmers, small gamers in addition to the entire coverage formulation. Interchange of information on mutually agreed phrases will guarantee smoothness and stability in coverage making in all international locations.
Integration of curiosity of sugarcane farmers in addition to sugar customers with the world sugar business is another focus space. At current, focus is extra on industrial points and curiosity of sugar producers and merchants. Nearer linkages between the farmers and business and intensive extension companies that guarantee farmers’ welfare ought to be on the core. Mechanization of the sugarcane farming particularly in international locations like India, Thailand and different Asian Nations is of prime significance for higher yield and restoration. Customization of equipment for smaller landholding is crucial for this goal and we have to work on this collectively with the business. In addition to, engaged on addressing well being issues of retail customers, particularly of kids, is one other side that we must be conscious of.
One other space the place we are able to work is on inexperienced financing for sugar and ethanol sector. Because the business is capital intensive and wishes enormous working capital to fulfill operational necessities, it’s crucial to associate with monetary establishments at world scale to obtain inexperienced concessions and simpler phrases for financing in biofuels like ethanol and Compressed Bio Fuel (CBG). This may increasingly make the entire sector extra financially viable and robust.
In at the moment’s flat world we face a posh state of affairs with difficult challenges. This calls for that we work along with a joined-up strategy, and ISO supplies a really perfect platform to strengthen cooperation, trade of data and mixed initiatives. It constitutes the umbrella underneath which all main stakeholders can collect and productively interact in tackling the duties forward. India is proud to foster a constructive area to generate such collaboration.
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