4 minute read
Marking a milestone
BY RENEE CLUFF
The Smartcane BMP program has turned 10.
Ingham sugarcane grower Michael Pisano is celebrating his second reaccreditation under Smartcane BMP after notching up a decade in the program. Michael was the first grower in Queensland to receive accreditation in 2014. He told Australian Canegrower he initially wanted to demystify the process.
“I did it over a wet weekend,” he recalled. “At that time, I was chair of Herbert River CANEGROWERS and I knew that CANEGROWERS wanted to promote Smartcane BMP. I thought it would be fair to do it and see what the challenges were, so I spent the weekend in the office with the checklist of things to go through.
“It wasn’t a big change. We’ve always done soil tests and tried new things, so it wasn’t a big deal to get all the information together.”
Now in semi-retirement, Michael is passing the baton to his son, Alex, who at a young age was instrumental in the farm’s first accreditation.
“When Alex was in high school in grade 11, way before Smartcane BMP was thought of, he wanted a project to do for his engineering class,” Michael explained. “I asked him to make me a chemical storage cabinet. So, he made it as a high school project, and we were ahead of the game. We’re still using it.”
43-per-cent, or more than 167,000 ha of Queensland cane land, has been Smartcane BMP certified since the program began. Every year, program numbers continue to grow, thanks to the work of the Smartcane BMP facilitators, who are instrumental in supporting growers on their path towards accreditation.
“Early adopters like Michael lead the way in adapting to the changing consumer environment,” said CANEGROWERS Smartcane BMP Project Manager, Kate Reardon. “Growers who commit to maintain their certification in Smartcane BMP signify their commitment to best practices and the environment.
“Our reaccreditation numbers are strong and are a testament to the program. It demonstrates that once a grower becomes Smartcane BMP certified, they continue to do the work to maintain their certification.
“Many consumers, end users and key stakeholders now look for proof of good practices and Smartcane BMP delivers this for the sugar industry. As interest in sustainably sourced sugar continues to grow, Smartcane BMP positions our industry in the driver’s seat to meet these demands and satisfy the sustainability requirements for end users and Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) companies. Every Smartcane BMP grower accredited goes through an audit – it’s not just a representative sample of growers, strengthening our credibility with key industry stakeholders and positioning Smartcane BMP as the gold standard of certification programs.”
Kate said over the years, the most significant changes have not involved growers, but rather how global markets and the industry have responded to the program’s success and its value.
“The program is now well recognised as being aligned with other international programs like ProTerra and VIVE, providing stronger access to international markets,” she said. “Furthermore, there has been an increase in interest in the social sustainability of Smartcane certified growers. The program will soon offer growers an additional module (Module 4 – People & Business) which will support these enquires.
“While its inception was to demonstrate industry self-regulation, the program has evolved in supporting growers to increase efficiencies and profitability rather than focusing solely on responding to regulations,” she added. “It empowers growers to consider alternative farming practices which can lead to strengthening productivity and viability within the industry.
“Smartcane BMP is more than a BMP program; it’s a comprehensive approach that empowers sugarcane growers to maximise productivity while minimising environmental impacts. It provides farmers with a toolkit of principles and practices, allowing them to implement tailored strategies based on their unique circumstances.”
More wide-ranging benefits for growers are emerging, including green loans, in addition to being low on the priority list for reef regulation compliance audits. Since Michael’s initial foray into Smartcane BMP, another 170,000 ha have become accredited, with District CANEGROWERS Offices and Productivity Services instrumental in supporting them on their path.
CANEGROWERS delivers the Smartcane BMP project (2022-2026) with funding from the Queensland Government’s Reef Water Quality Program and CANEGROWER
