Better Sugarcane Initiative - BSI

BSI Principles

To achieve the objectives of the Initiative, the participants in the Better Sugarcane Initiative agree to:

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Create and maintain a forum to identify and share information about trends in sugarcane production and primary processing;

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Challenge assumptions and foster understanding globally;
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Ensure open and transparent dissemination of information;
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Agree on key impacts of sugarcane production and primary processing;
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Document and analyse environmental and social Better Management Practices and their cost and benefits to sugarcane producers, primary processors, the environment and society;
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Agree on the principles of "Better Sugarcane";
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Establish priorities for solution-oriented research and technological innovation;
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Create a database of current information about Better Sugarcane related to key impacts and priorities and support the dissemination of information about the BSI , as well as other sugar initiatives;
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Agree on performance-based and verifiable standards for Better Sugarcane that include environmental, social, and financial considerations.
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Support and encourage use of better management practices by relevant stakeholders; and,
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Integrate findings into codes of conduct and certification programs based on better management practices.

 

BSI protocol for operations and external communications

Membership in the Better Sugarcane Initiative, and its operations and external communications, will be governed by the following provisions:

1. Membership
 
Membership applications will be decided by the Steering Committee for each level of membership on the basis of each applicant's ability and willingness to abide by BSI principles and objectives and actively support its goals.
 

Membership may be reviewed by the Steering Committee periodically and members requested to terminate membership in light of actions inconsistent with BSI goals, non-payment of fees, or failure to adhere to the communications-related provisions below.
2. Fees
 
Member fees are annual and payable as determined by the Steering Committee.
3. Meetings
 
BSI general membership meetings will be open to all BSI members and shall be held at least annually as notified to members by the BSI Co-ordinator.
4. Communications
 
Members will maintain open, honest, and respectful communications and adhere to the strategy and content for external communications about the BSI adopted by the Steering Committee.
 

BSI members will seek appropriate opportunities to publicize the initiative and to inform interested parties of its purpose. The form and content of all such publicity, including any announcements, will be agreed upon in advance by the Steering Committee. Each BSI member will give the Steering Committee reasonable time to review such material before it is presented to the public.
 

Members will only use the BSI Marks as permitted by Steering Committee guidelines, and in particular will not use the BSI Marks as part of any corporate, business, trading or domain name unless authorized by the Steering Committee. Members will also refrain from adopting for use any certification mark, trade mark, symbol or device which incorporates or is confusingly similar to, or is a simulation or imitation of the BSI Marks.
 

Members will adhere to any policy adopted by the Steering Committee regarding the use of confidential personal or business information and, in the absence of such a policy, to use their best efforts to refrain from divulging confidential information.
 

Members will refrain from submitting confidential personal or business information to the BSI unless clearly marked as such and specifically solicited by the Steering Committee.
 

Members will not use the proceedings of the BSI to advance anticompetitive purposes or programs or to communicate anticompetitive information, and will adhere to the laws of relevant jurisdictions governing competition.
5. Operations
 

The Steering Committee may establish technical working groups, and other advisory groups as needed that reflect the interests of the range of interested stakeholders.
 

The Steering Committee may establish procedures for interaction between the membership, the Steering Committee, technical working groups, advisory committees and the public at large.
 

Nothing in this Protocol, Mission and Objectives, shall constitute or be deemed to constitute a partnership or joint venture between the Members.

BSI Structure

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BSI - Better Sugarcane Initiative www.bettersugarcane.org