“The sugar industry must evolve with the times”

Oskar Benedikt, Ambassador of the European Union to Mauritius.

• “We (the EU) are discussing with AFD and the government (of Mauritius) to identify ways in which Mauritius can better adapt to this challenge of water scarcity and drought.”

• “The European market is increasingly driven by sustainability. Mauritius can capitalize on this by ensuring its sugar meets fair trade, organic, and sustainability accreditations.”

• “If Mauritius secures GI recognition for its rum and specialty sugars, this could significantly boost their market value”

The European Union played a crucial role in supporting Mauritius’ sugar reform strategy between 2007 and 2013, ensuring the long-term competitiveness and sustainability of the industry. According to Ambassador Oskar Benedikt, the EU’s support under the accompanying measures for Sugar Protocol countries amounted to nearly €280 million. Looking ahead, there is significant potential to integrate Mauritius’ sugar and rum industries more effectively with the tourism sector. One approach would be closer collaboration with hotels in Mauritius, and even direct partnerships with establishments in Europe. “The goal is not just to keep the industry alive, but to make it thrive,” Ambassador Benedikt emphasized during the Sugar/Rum Value Chain Conference held in Mauritius. To achieve this, he stressed the importance of working together to diversify production, improve sustainability, and enhance global competitiveness.

Rudy Veeramundar

Sugar has long been the backbone of Mauritius’ economy. While the sector has evolved over time, its importance remains deeply rooted in the country’s history and economic structure. In today’s rapidly changing global market, the focus is shifting towards value addition, diversification, and sustainability.

These were the central themes of the Sugar/Rum Value Chain Development Conference which took place last week in Mauritius. The event gathered key industry players, government representatives, and international stakeholders, including Ambassador Oskar Benedikt, Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Mauritius. The EU has historically played a key role in the sector’s transformation, and Ambassador Benedikt reiterated its continued support for Mauritius’ sugar industry.

“The sugar industry is the history of the country,” he stated. “There is a historical continuity, and we are now at a new step where more value needs to be added.”

Reflecting on the EU’s involvement, Ambassador Benedikt recalled how Mauritius embarked on a structural transformation of its sugar industry, with the EU providing substantial financial assistance.

“I would like to recall that the EU supported the sugar reform strategy of the government between 2007 and 2013, ensuring the long-term competitiveness and sustainability of the industry,” he said. “Our support under the accompanying measures for the Sugar Protocol countries amounted to nearly €280 million.”

Addressing Minister Arvin Boolell, who was then Minister of Agriculture, the Ambassador acknowledged his role in leading the industry’s reform efforts.  “No later than a few weeks ago, you mobilized all the key stakeholders for a brainstorming session on the revitalization of the sugarcane industry. I also note that the recent government programme (2025-2029) places specialty sugar production high on the agenda,” Oskar Benedikt said.

He emphasized that the EU remains ready to support the development of the sugarcane value chain, particularly in addressing challenges such as market competitiveness, climate adaptation, and high production costs.

A key aspect of the conference was the need for diversification and value addition within the sugar industry. Ambassador Benedikt stressed that Mauritius must maximize the economic potential of sugarcane by-products, rather than relying solely on raw sugar exports.

“We need to develop value-added products such as specialty sugars, bioenergy, ethanol, and rum,” he said. “These products not only create new market opportunities, but also optimize the use of available resources.”

Beyond exports, he pointed to linking sugar production with the tourism industry. “There is potential to integrate our sugar and rum more effectively with the tourism sector, for instance by working with hotels in Mauritius, and even directly with establishments in Europe,” he explained.

“Strengthening the economic resilience, sustainability, and competitiveness of the Mauritian sugar and rum value chain is not a task for one entity alone. It requires the collective effort of all players in the industry”

 

He cited an example from a conference discussion: “A consultant mentioned that a major hotel in Paris would rather use Mauritian rum for direct selling. These are the kinds of opportunities that need to be explored.”

While Mauritius has long been a resilient agricultural economy, climate change poses a severe threat to its sugarcane plantations. Droughts and water shortages are increasing, making adaptation a pressing issue.

“We all suffer from climate change,” Ambassador Benedikt acknowledged. “Periods of drought are becoming more intense – not just in Mauritius, but worldwide. Even in my own country, which used to have ample water and snow, this winter was the driest since 1905.”

He emphasized that water management and conservation should be a priority, given the direct impact of droughts on sugarcane yields. “Less water means less harvest – it’s as simple as that,” he stated.

On a positive note, he revealed that discussions were already underway between the EU, the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), and the Mauritian government to explore solutions for better water resource management. “Water is life. Without water, nothing works. We are discussing with the AFD and the government to identify ways in which Mauritius can better adapt to this challenge of water scarcity and drought”, he said.

The global sugar market is evolving, and sustainability is playing an increasingly central role. European consumers, in particular, are demanding products that meet strict environmental and ethical standards.

“The sugar industry must evolve with the times,” Ambassador Benedikt said. “We must focus on sustainable farming practices, including reducing chemical fertilizers and pesticides, promoting organic farming methods, and using modern irrigation techniques to improve water efficiency.”

He stressed that these efforts would not only benefit the environment, but also enhance Mauritius’ global competitiveness. “The European market is increasingly driven by sustainability. Consumers want ethically sourced products, and Mauritius can capitalize on this by ensuring its sugar meets fair trade, organic, and sustainability accreditations.”

Oskar Benedikt also highlighted the importance of Geographical Indications (GI), which provide certification that products are uniquely tied to their region of origin. “A recent EU study found that GI-certified products sell for more than double the price of non-certified equivalents. If Mauritius secures GI recognition for its rum and specialty sugars, this could significantly boost their market value,” he noted.

Despite the challenges, Ambassador Benedikt remains optimistic about the future of Mauritius’ sugar and rum industry. However, he stressed that success requires collaboration among all stakeholders – government, industry leaders, small-scale farmers, and research institutions.

“Strengthening the economic resilience, sustainability, and competitiveness of the Mauritian sugar and rum value chain is not a task for one entity alone. It requires the collective effort of all players in the industry,” he emphasized.

Ambassador Benedikt expressed confidence that the EU-ACP Business-Friendly Programme, which is currently supporting Mauritius, would deliver concrete results. “The goal is not just to keep the industry alive, but to make it thrive. We must work together to diversify production, improve sustainability, and enhance global competitiveness.”

With continued EU support, a strong focus on premium, certified products, and greater integration with tourism and export markets, Mauritius’ sugar and rum industry is well-positioned to adapt, compete, and grow in the years ahead.