San José, Costa Rica – May 2025.
UNALA participated in the 66th International Sugar Council, organized by the International Sugar Organization (ISO) and the Liga Agrícola de la Caña de Azúcar (LAICA), which is being held from May 26-30, 2025, in San José, Costa Rica.
This event brings together government representatives, industry leaders and sugar traders to discuss the future of the global sugar agribusiness, with an emphasis on sustainability, trade, innovation and diversification.
The power of the region: UNALA at the center of the global debate
UNALA was part of the panel “The power of the region”, which took place on Tuesday, May 27 as part of the plenary session of the event. The organization was represented by its Executive Director, Luis Fernando Salazar, who shared an intervention focused on the concrete advances of the Latin American sugar sector in the framework of sustainability.
During his presentation, he presented the 17 case studies that document the most relevant contributions of UNALA members to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These studies show good practices in key areas such as education, employment, renewable energy, water management, gender equity and climate action. The results were recently presented to the United Nations in New York on May 13, as part of the efforts to make visible the Latin American sugar sector’s commitment to sustainable development.
Sustainability with a Latin American identity
UNALA’s participation in this event reaffirms the region’s leadership and organized voice within the sector’s main global forums. “Our sector is not perfect, but it is constantly working to improve and to generate energy and sustainable development”, said Luis Fernando Salazar during the panel.
With his intervention, UNALA once again positions Latin America as a region that not only produces sugar, but also reaps progress with numerous ongoing social and environmental projects.