by Géraldine Kutas | Jul 8, 2019 | sugarcane sector, sustainability
20 years to the day of negotiations beginning, an agreement was reached on the EU-Mercosur deal. Cautious optimism had been growing for some weeks, but when the confirmation was received late on Friday 28thJune, it came nonetheless as a huge surprise. Here we...
by Géraldine Kutas | Jun 25, 2019 | environmental protection, sugarcane sector
EU-Mercosur negotiations have had their share of ups and downs over the past 20 years. However, since the beginning of the year, the new Brazilian Government surprised many with their strong pro-trade stance and have demonstrated an unexpected ambition to close the...
by Géraldine Kutas | Sep 26, 2018 | air quality, ethanol, sugarcane
In the week of 4 to 8 of September I was invited to the Kingsman Annual Sugar Conference in New Delhi (India) to speak about how sugarcane ethanol can contribute to decarbonizing transport and improving air quality. During that week I also had the opportunity to visit...
by Géraldine Kutas | Jul 9, 2018 | Sem categoria
Since December last year the closing of the EU-Mercosur trade negotiations has continually seemed tantalizingly just around the corner, but certain obstacles have proved stubborn in rearing their heads, stretching out the talks until the middle of 2018. Hope has...
by Géraldine Kutas | Jun 25, 2018 | Sem categoria
The UNICA Forum has once again proved its standing as one of the most important events on bioenergy and transport. More than 600 people attended this year’s edition in São Paulo on 18 June 2018. Participants included eight candidates in Brazil’s Presidential race as...
by Géraldine Kutas | May 3, 2018 | Sem categoria
The EU has the opportunity to close two major trade deals in 2018: with Mexico, on which it just reached political agreement; and with the Mercosur trading block, where an agreement lies tantalizingly within reach. The EU’s recent success in closing major trade...
by Géraldine Kutas | Apr 3, 2018 | Sem categoria
As every year, the 2018 edition of the Forum for the Future of Agriculture (FFA) which was held in Brussels last week was another impressive event. There are very few agriculture-focused events in Brussels of the same calibre that manage to gather such an impressive...
by Géraldine Kutas | Feb 21, 2018 | Sem categoria
The negotiators for the EU-Mercosur trade deal are doing an impressive job. This Tuesday started the third week of full time negotiations since the beginning of February, only interrupted by Carnival. The negotiators clearly see what they are fighting for and the...
by Géraldine Kutas | Dec 20, 2017 | Sem categoria
As we come to the close of a busy year, it’s worthwhile to take time to pause and reflect on everything that we’ve achieved this year. For UNICA it has indeed been an interesting and eventful year, full of activity on two key dossiers that are of critical importance...
by Géraldine Kutas | Nov 7, 2017 | Sem categoria
The EU-Mercosur trade deal is close to the finishing line and the final breakthrough might still come by the end of the year. This trade agreement between the EU and the four Mercosur Members – Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay – would be the largest...
by Géraldine Kutas | Oct 2, 2017 | Sem categoria
There is hardly a single sector in the EU that is as protected as much as sugar. For decades the EU sugar beet industry benefited, together with other measures, of minimum prices and extremely high import tariffs. At a current international price for raw sugar of €255...
by Géraldine Kutas | Sep 5, 2017 | Sem categoria
EU trade policy is on a roll. After the conclusions of a deal with Japan, the largest bilateral Free Trade Agreement yet, the EU has set its eyes on a deal with Mercosur. Such a deal offers huge potential for EU industry: it would greatly improve access to emerging...
by Géraldine Kutas | Dec 22, 2016 | Sem categoria
Dear readers, This is our last post of the year. 2016 will definitely go down in history as an eventful year, both on the political and policy levels. I hope you will all get to disconnect from work, rest, and enjoy the Winter Holidays with families and friends. The...
by Elizabeth Farina | Nov 23, 2016 | Sem categoria
The Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (known by the acronym “UNICA”) today commented on the final 2017 renewable fuel standards from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The association’s statement should be attributed to UNICA’s President, Elizabeth...
by Leticia Phillips | Nov 14, 2016 | Sem categoria
This article originally ran at Ethanol Producer Magazine. The Paris Agreement on Climate Change entered into force in September, starting a coordinated effort by the world’s governments to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and limit climate change impacts. It’s far from...
