Agenda

Monday, February 10, 2025

12:00 PM - 09:30 PM

REGISTRATION DESK OPENS / REFRESHMENTS
Event Centre, InterContinental Dubai Festival City
Sponsored by Marex

07:15 PM - 09:30 PM

ALVEAN WELCOME RECEPTION
Leisure Deck at Poolside, Crowne Plaza Dubai – Festival City

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

07:30 AM - 09:00 AM

REGISTRATION DESK REOPENS / MORNING COFFEE
Event Centre, InterContinental Dubai Festival City
Sponsored by BTG Pactual

 



09:00 AM - 09:05 AM

OPENING AUDIO VISUAL
Al Ras Ballroom

09:05 AM - 09:15 AM

WELCOME ADDRESS

Jamal Al Ghurair
Managing Director, Al Khaleej Sugar
Speaker

09:15 AM - 09:30 AM

INTRODUCTION TO THE CONFERENCE

Jacob Robbins
Chief Executive Officer, Emeterra
Speaker

09:30 AM - 10:00 AM

KEYNOTE ADDRESS | FROM EVOLUTION TO REVOLUTION – THE ROAD AHEAD


We are delighted that Diego Herrera, Chief Executive Officer of the Pantaleon Group, will be our Keynote Speaker this year. He will speak on the theme of the Conference, From Evolution to Revolution – The Road Ahead. Diego leads Pantaleon into the future and its new realities, with a significant emphasis on innovation and embracing new technologies. His thoughts on the imperatives of starting and harnessing a revolution in sugar and well beyond, building on Pantaleon’s own experience, will provide direction for the wider industry and a template for the revolution on the road ahead.


Diego  Herrera
Chief Executive Officer, Pantaleon Group  
Speaker 

10:00 AM - 10:15 AM

THE GLOBAL SUGAR INDUSTRY LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Khun Isara Vongkusolkit
Honorary Chairman, Mitr Phol Group Recipient

10:15 AM - 11:15 AM

SESSION 1 | COMING BACK TO LIFE: HOW WILL SUGAR EVOLVE? 


In this unique platform, the global sugar majors – Alvean, COFCO, Louis Dreyfus, Raízen and Sucden – come together to view the world of sugar and share their perspectives on what it will take for the market to come back to life, as well as to discuss and debate the issues facing the sugar market. They will look into what lies ahead, in an environment that seems to be full of surprises. India announced a million tonnes of exports, and now we hear of the prospects of a lower-than-expected crop. Thailand was looking like a bright spot, but with poorer yields this picture might change. China and Pakistan are seeing drier weather, which put their numbers for 2024/25 into question. Brazil’s elevated cane and sugar ratio expectations last year were crushed – will they recover after limited rains? To what extent will all this impact the projected largish surplus expected of +/- 4 million tonnes in 2025/26? How will the unpredictability of a tariff-obsessed Trump administration impact trade flows and the US dollar? With Dr Claudiu Covrig taking us on a whirl around the world of sugar and Jonathan Drake moderating in his inimitable style, this session should provide you with all the insights that you are looking for. It’s even possible that it may fill you with the optimism of the words of the Pink Floyd song, “I took a heavenly ride through our silence; I knew the moment had arrived; For killing the past and coming back to life”.


Jonathan Drake
Technical Adviser, Sugar, Golden Agri-Resources
Moderator
Dr Claudiu Covrig
Founder and Lead Agriculture Analyst, CovrigAnalytics
Speaker
Mauro S J Angelo
Chief Executive Officer, Alvean
Panellist
Enrico Biancheri
Head of the Sugar Platform, Louis Dreyfus Company
Panellist
Bernardo Gama Rodrigues
Head of Sugar, Raízen Energia
Panellist
Jose Eduardo Toledo
Global Head of Sugar Trading, COFCO International
Panellist
Dimitri Varsano
Co-Global Head of Sugar Trading, Sucden
Panellist


11:15 AM - 11:30 AM

REFRESHMENT BREAK
Sponsored by Mitr Phol Group


11:30 AM - 12:00 PM

SESSION 2 | MARKET CONSENSUS ACTIVITY
Al Ras Ballroom

Tracey Allen
Senior Commodities Strategist,
JP Morgan
Jeff Bauml
Managing Director, J Bauml & Co

12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

SESSION 3 | SHINE ON YOU CRAZY DIAMOND: WILL SUGAR SHINE IN BRAZIL?
Sponsored by bp bioenergy


Ever important, Brazil is next on the agenda and it looks like we may see 2025/26 resulting in a steady 41-42 million tonne scenario for sugar. Last year ethanol prices trailed sugar and the real plummeted, but will a higher sugar ratio this year change this perspective? With ethanol prices continuing to look remunerative, coupled with a possible increase in the blending ratio and a stronger real, what will this do for the ethanol parity? How will this impact the sugar ratio? Perhaps it will barely make a dent and the ethanol market will provide a floor to prices, as we enter a period of surplus sucrose, continuing to provide a bedrock of stability, echoing the words, “Remember when you were young, you shone like the sun; Shine on you crazy diamond”. We’ll hear from the best sugar minds from Brazil to help us make sense of it all.


Eder Vieito
Chief Executive Officer, Green Pool Commodity Specialists
Moderator / Speaker
Jeremy Austin
General Director, Sucden do Brasil
Panellist
Vincent Bakx
Commercial Director – Sugar Ethanol & Bioenergy, Viterra
Panellist
Ricardo Busato Carvalho
Commercial Director, bp bioenergy
Panellist
Guilherme Schaefer Francisco Correia
Commercial Director, Louis Dreyfus Company
Panellist


12:45 PM - 01:30 PM

SESSION 4 | MONEY: SUGAR MACROECONOMICS
Sponsored by Hedgepoint Global Markets


At the end of the day for many, it’s all about the Money! As Pink Floyd sing it, “Money, it's a gas; Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash”. Well, you may just learn how to do that based on an accurate reading of our macroeconomic future. Or is that even remotely possible? You will hear the clink of the incisive mind of Jan Lambregts at work, as Kona Haque drills down on his theme of – “The Year of Living Dangerously”. He will criss-cross the intersection of geopolitics, currencies and macro trends, all of this to help you navigate the dangerous world into which we may well be headed. A session not to be missed. 


Kona Haque
Group Head of Research, ED&F Man
Moderator
Jan Lambregts
Head of RaboResearch Global Economics & Markets, Rabobank
Speaker

01:30 PM - 03:00 PM

COFCO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE LUNCH
Al Baraha Ballroom

03:00 PM - 03:30 PM

WORKSHOP 1 | WISH YOU WERE HERE: INSIGHTS ON FUNDS AND VOLATILITY IN THE SUGAR MARKET 
Al Ras Ballroom
Sponsored by Cargill Risk Management
 


Marc Bonter
Senior Trader, Cargill Risk Management
Claire Fajardy
Derivatives Director, Cargill Risk Management


03:30 PM - 04:00 PM

WORKSHOP 2 | HIGH HOPES: BIOPOLYMERS FOR A NEW WORLD
Sponsored by Sulzer



Nereo Rodriguez
Sales Manager Biopolymer Technology Licenses, Sulzer

 

04:00 PM - 04:15 PM

REFRESHMENT BREAK
Sponsored by AmSpec Group

 

04:15 PM - 04:45 PM

WORKSHOP 3 | LEARNING TO FLY: DIGITALIZATION AND AI FOR SUGAR TRADE EXECUTION
Al Ras Ballroom
Sponsored by Covantis

Sorin Albeanu
Head of Commercial, Covantis

07:00 PM - 10:00 PM

THE SUCDEN GALA DINNER
The Promenade – InterContinental Dubai Festival City

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

06:30 AM - 08:30 AM

BREAKFAST
Vista Lounge & Terrace, InterContinental Dubai Festival City
Sponsored by Raízen

08:00 AM - 09:00 AM

REGISTRATION DESK REOPENS / MORNING COFFEE
Event Centre, InterContinental Dubai Festival City
Sponsored by Intercontinental Exchange (ICE)
 

09:00 AM - 09:45 AM

SESSION 5 | BIDING MY TIME: WHAT DO WE SEE AHEAD FOR INDIA? 
Al Ras Ballroom
Sponsored by Garden Court Distilleries


All eyes are riveted on India – with a million tonnes of exports till end September this year and the paradox of successive crop downgrades for 2024/25, how will this play out? 2025/26 has the expectation of a large recovery. But with pests like the top borer (not to be confused with a party guest who goes on and on) and diseases like red rot playing havoc with the crop in parts of India, how might this impact the next crop? India ought to be back in the sugar export game in 2025/26, but we also hear of ambitious ethanol blending plans that are well ahead of targets. We will have a cross-section of sugar millers, refiners, ethanol producers, traders and the Joint Secretary, Sugar of the Government of India, all on the same panel to debate varying points of view. We’d certainly like to get some clarity on whether India, like the song goes, is humming, “And if you don't mind; I'll spend my time; Here by the fire side”. Just biding its time, waiting for a big move. 


Anup Kumar
Managing Director, Sucden India
Moderator
Niraj Shirgaokar
Vice President, Indian Sugar & Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA)
Speaker
Ravi Gupta
Director, Shree Renuka Sugars
Speaker
Deepak Ballani
Director General, Indian Sugar & Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA)
Panellist
Sandeep Kadam
Chairman, EXIM Committee, All India Sugar Trade Association (AISTA)
Panellist
Harshwardhan Patil
President, National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories
Panellist
Ashwini Srivastava
Joint Secretary – Sugar, Department of Food & Public Distribution, Government of India
Panellist


09:45 AM - 10:30 AM

SESSION 6 | THE HAPPIEST DAYS OF OUR LIVES: UNCOVERING THE REALITY ON SUGAR & HEALTH
Sponsored by Green Pool Commodity Specialists


Global sugar consumption continues to grow despite the naysayers. Ozempic and Wegovy may cut down a few waistlines, but cut into the wallets of the beneficiaries as well… even if their prices fall, it appears unlikely that such drugs will pose a serious challenge to sugar consumption. Add to the mix the problematic news on the adverse health effects of artificial sweeteners. Then include the potential of the sugar industry to fight back and debunk the negative news on sugar and health, and as a community we may well be heading for “The Happiest Days of Our Lives”. We’ll hear from Annie Denny, as she explores the facts on sugar and health, and then Jacob Robbins opens up the discussion with José Orive, to crystallize the reality and set the record straight. Here’s to sugar and happiness – may they long stay connected.


Jacob Robbins
Chief Executive Officer, Emeterra
Moderator
Annie Denny
Director General, World Sugar Research Organisation
Speaker
José Orive
Executive Director, International Sugar Organization (ISO)
Panellist


10:30 AM - 11:15 AM

SESSION 7 | GREEN IS THE COLOUR: THE ROAD TO GREEN CHEMICALS
Sponsored by ED&F Man Sugar


In keeping with the theme of the Conference, we’ll now launch more directly into the concept of revolution to determine the things that can be done, and indeed must be done. The idea is to innovate, and not only protect but enhance bottom lines, while remaining sustainable. Learn about potentially unfamiliar but rewarding pathways like harnessing synthetic biology to make sustainable alternatives to petroleum products. Hear about opportunities to produce bio-esters and new technologies for lactic acid and 2G ethanol. Discover processes that enable the production of Polylactic Acid at scale, providing an alternative to traditional polymers. Rest easy while all this is explored by some wonderful minds in a manner that relates to all – regardless of your technological savviness. The future looks green in more ways than one – “Green is the Colour”.  


Dr Deepak Dugar
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Visolis
Moderator / Speaker
Mario Steinmetz
Chief Executive Officer, Bionexus
Speaker
Alex Battù
Global Licensing Manager, Sulzer
Panellist
Samir Somaiya
Chairman and Managing Director, Godavari Biorefineries
Panellist


11:15 AM - 12:00 AM

SESSION 8 | WELCOME TO THE MACHINE: AGENTIC AI AND BEYOND
Sponsored by ION Group


In technology, there are decades where nothing happens, and then there are weeks where decades happen. In the last two years since ChatGPT, AI has been innovating at a blistering pace with DeepSeek, reasoning models and Agentic AI. This session covers the latest developments in AI, and what will likely be the major innovations this year and next. It focusses on AI Agents, or Agentic AI, since that will create the largest transformation in enterprises and businesses across the world. The sugar industry is not an exception, with AI and Agentic AI promising great transformational impact across farming, processing and manufacturing, supply chain and logistics, marketing, sustainability, waste reduction and beyond. Hear the perspective of noted AI personality Jaspreet Bindra followed by a discussion with Guillermo Medina, moderated by Jacob Robbins. At one level, it is in sync with the words “Welcome to the Machine”, with Pink Floyd’s vision of a future society in which we live, depicted as a machine that shapes our lives. The band may have been prophetic.


Jacob Robbins
Chief Executive Officer, Emeterra
Moderator
Jaspreet Bindra
Founder, AI & Beyond and Tech Whisperer
Speaker
Guillermo Medina
Chief Digital & Analytics Officer, Pantaleon Sugar Holdings
Panellist


12:00 PM - 12:15 PM

REFRESHMENT BREAK
Sponsored by Amius

12:15 PM - 01:15 PM

INTERNATIONAL SUGAR QUIZ
Sponsored by Mitr Phol Group


It's time to battle it out again and win with the edge of knowledge and alacrity. Are you ready, sugar expertise sharpened? Three brilliant teams, who will get the trophy? And who will take the Audience Prize – a  stunning Space Grey 11-inch Apple iPad Air ? A quiz involving all things sugar promises to be a lot of fun.


Jeff Bauml
Managing Director, J Bauml & Co
Quiz Master

Team Asia Pacific
Charlotte Kingsman
Founder, ECRUU Commodities Media Monitoring
Kannika Vongkusolkit
Vice President, Trading Business & Risk Management, Mitr Phol Group
Yatin Wadhwana
Director, Gradient Commercial


Team Europe
Wim De Waegeneer
Director Sugar Sourcing Europe, Barry Callebaut Group
Julian Price
Executive Director, ACP / LDC Sugarcane Industries Group
Ana Studen
Head of Business Development, STUDEN Global

Team South America
Caroline Harfuch
Structured Derivatives Manager, Olam Agri
Michael Levitz       
Trading Manager, Sucden Americas
Emely Salazar
Director Commercial, Grupo CASSA


01:15 PM - 02:45 PM

LOUIS DREYFUS CONFERENCE LUNCH 
Al Baraha Ballroom 

02:45 PM - 06:00 PM

AFTERNOON 
FREE FOR MEETINGS

Thursday, February 13, 2025

06:30 AM - 08:30 AM

BREAKFAST
Vista Lounge & Terrace, InterContinental Dubai Festival City
Sponsored by Al Khaleej Sugar and Emeterra 

08:00 AM - 09:00 AM

REGISTRATION DESK REOPENS / MORNING COFFEE
Event Centre, InterContinental Dubai Festival City
Sponsored by Dr Amin Controllers 

09:00 AM - 09:45 AM

SESSION 9 | US AND THEM: WHERE IS EUROPE HEADED? 
Al Ras Ballroom
Sponsored by Limako Suiker


2024 saw producers in the EU face the grim reality of cost increases, significantly lower prices and the influx of sugar from Ukraine. On the other hand, the beet farmers had a positive year given good yields and prices. The figures for stocks confirmed that consumption was weak in 2023/24. However, a recovery is expected in 2024/25. While the woes of the industry (US) may have been attributable to the high beet prices for farmers and low-priced imports from Ukraine (THEM), things should look up – with low price imports curtailed, an initial projected increase in consumption and an expected reduction in acreage supporting prices. Hear the expert opinions of John Adams and then the perspective of a producer, from Marion Hoff. This will be followed by an insightful discussion moderated by Peter de Klerk, with a panel that spans subject matter experts, producers and the European trade – which should hopefully clarify where sugar in Europe is headed.


Peter de Klerk
Senior Economist, International Sugar Organization (ISO)
Moderator
John Adams
Director of Sugar Research, GlobalData
Speaker
Marion Hoff
Sales Director Europe, Tereos
Speaker
Josien Hermans   
Chief Commercial Officer, Cosun Beet Company
Panellist
Ilija Studen
President and Chief Executive Officer, STUDEN Global
Panellist

09:45 AM - 10:30 AM

SESSION 10 | GIVE BIRTH TO A SMILE: WILL THAILAND OBLIGE?


The crop in Thailand was looking promising, but lower than expected yields have put a damper on things. The Office of the Cane and Sugar Board (OCSB) in Thailand has estimated cane production for 2024/25 to reach around 93 million tonnes. This should produce more than 10 million tonnes sugar with significant shifts in the raw / white balance despite the suspension of liquid sugar sales to China. Questions abound on whether Thailand can return to previous highs of 135 million tonnes of cane. We’ll hear from Robin Shaw who has seen it all, while Jonathan Drake moderates and Kannika Vongkusolkit provides a perspective based on the ground realities in Thailand. As the song goes, “Strange are the colours of the turf; Heralding the rebirth of the earth; Gather all your energy and try; Give birth to a smile”. But will the land of smiles oblige?


Jonathan Drake
Technical Adviser, Sugar, Golden Agri-Resources
Moderator
Robin Shaw
Sugar Analyst, Marex
Speaker
Kannika Vongkusolkit
Vice President – Trading Business and Risk Management, Mitr Phol Sugar
Panellist

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

SESSION 11 | GREAT GIG IN THE SKY: THE PATH TO SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUEL
Sponsored by Nirani Sugars


In 2019, aviation emitted over a billion tonnes of CO2. Without action, these emissions are expected to nearly double by 2050. A single long-haul flight can create more carbon emissions in a few hours than the average person in 56 different countries will generate in an entire year. Airlines can cut their carbon dioxide emissions by transitioning from petroleum-based fuels to using a low-carbon alternative – Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). While the demand for SAF will likely grow steadily driven by policy and mandates, capital costs can be a hurdle. However, with a range of pathways, such as Alcohol-to-Jet (AtJ) and Fischer-Tropsch that uses syngas to produce SAF, the scenario is still evolving. Andy Duff will set the stage with an overview of the space and potential demand, with Alessandro Gardemann laying out some promising technological solutions, and Anup Jagwani providing a sense of how all this could be financed. Moving into the panel stage, Dr Sanjay Awasthi will add his perspective on project build-outs. All this should make for a “Great Gig in the Sky”.


Andy Duff
Head, Food & Agribusiness Research – South America, Rabobank
Moderator / Speaker
Alessandro Gardemann
Chief Executive Officer, Geo bio gas&carbon
Speaker
Anup Jagwani
Head, Global Agribusiness & Forestry, International Finance Corporation
Speaker
Dr Sanjay Awasthi
Chief Executive, ISGEC Heavy Engineering
Panellist

11:30 AM - 12:00 AM

REFRESHMENT BREAK
Sponsored by Orchid Global

12:00 AM - 12:45 PM

SESSION 12 | BREATHE: CARBON & SUSTAINABILITY
Al Ras Ballroom
Sponsored by CZ Advise


Last year we asked the question, “Will 2024 surpass 2023 to be the hottest year ever?” Indeed 2024 was the planet's warmest year on record and the first year with temperatures of above 1.5 degrees Celsius as compared to pre-industrial levels. Every month in 2024 was the warmest or second-warmest for that month since records began. Hear from Stephen Geldart as he walks us through a bird’s eye view of climate change and its potential implications for sugar, agriculture and the economy at large. Change is an imperative but there are enabling solutions at hand. Alfredo Nicastro will tell us how emissions reductions can be monetized to help finance the change needed. Danielle Morely will then explore the role that =that the Bonsucro platform can play in fighting climate change and upholding human rights. This will lead into the panel discussion along with Carlos de Mathias Martins Junior. In the words of a classic, the need of the hour is to “Breathe, breathe in the air; Don't be afraid to care”.


Stephen Geldart
Head of Analysis, CZ
Moderator / Speaker
Alfredo Nicastro
Senior Vice President – Global Head of Carbon Markets, StoneX
Speaker
Danielle Morley
Chief Executive Officer, Bonsucro
Speaker
Carlos de Mathias Martins Junior
Chief Executive Officer, BlockC
Panellist

12:45 PM - 01:15 PM

SESSION 13 | MARKET CONSENSUS ACTIVITY

Tracey Allen
Senior Commodities Strategist,
JP Morgan
Jeff Bauml
Managing Director, J Bauml & Co

01:15 PM - 01:30 PM

CLOSING COMMENTS

Jamal Al Ghurair
Managing Director, Al Khaleej Sugar
Speaker
Jacob Robbins
Chief Executive Officer, Emeterra
Speaker

01:30 PM - 03:30 PM

AL KHALEEJ SUGAR GALA LUNCHEON
The Promenade, InterContinental Dubai Festival City

03:40 PM - 04:00 PM

Buses leave from outside the Event Centre, InterContinental Dubai Festival City

04:00 PM - 06:00 PM

THE OLD DUBAI EXPERIENCE
Sponsored by Savola