New York conference discusses global sugar trade

The impact of the U.S. government's tariff agenda on global sugar and ethanol trade will be one of the topics addressed during the 18th edition of the CITI ISO Datagro NY Sugar & Ethanol Conference. The subject, which has been closely followed by the industry, will be discussed in one of the panels, moderated by José Orive, executive director of the International Sugar Organization (ISO), with the participation of Humberto Jasso, executive president of the Chamber of the Sugar and Alcohol Industry, Luther Markwart, executive vice president of the American Sugar Alliance (ASA) and Rob Johansson, director of economics and political analysis at ASA.  

Organized by Datagro consulting in partnership with Citi and the International Sugar Organization (ISO), the conference is considered the official technical meeting of the NY Sugar Dinner, a traditional annual meeting of the global sugar and ethanol industry. The event, on May 14, will be attended by representatives of governments, companies, financial institutions and research centers.   

The panels will also address topics related to climate, product diversification, emerging technologies and financing the energy transition. In addition to addressing new possibilities for products such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), biobunkers and green hydrogen.  

“Brazil occupies a strategic position in the international energy transition scenario. The country brings together scale, technology and favorable regulation for the production of biofuels with low carbon intensity. Brazilian ethanol, in particular, is a consolidated alternative that can meet the growing global demand for cleaner and safer energy sources,” says Plinio Nastari (pictured), CEO of Datagro.  

Among the confirmed names are Senator Tereza Cristina, federal deputies Arnaldo Jardim and Marussa Boldrin, and Admiral José Augusto da Cunha de Menezes, Brazil's representative at the International Maritime Organization. Also participating are executives such as Ed Mason, CEO of Jet Zero, Kona Haque, research director at ED&F Man, and Luiz Daniel de Campos, chief investment officer at IFC – International Finance Corporation, in addition to other experts from public and private institutions.  

“Brazil has the biomass, the know-how and, increasingly, the capital to lead the energy transition demanded by global players from different sectors in search of decarbonization,” says André Cury, head of Commercial Banking at Citi for Brazil and Latin America.  

In 2024, the event brought together more than 30 speakers and 400 participants from 20 different countries, who participated in a program of more than 8 hours of content. The 2025 edition will follow the hybrid model, with in-person programming and the possibility of remote access.