about the principle 4 of the Bonsucro Production Standard v5.1, it can be said that the same remained similar initially, now being introduced as “Actively manage ecosystem services and biodiversity”. The criterion 4.1, which in the previous version was “to assess the impacts of sugarcane enterprises on biodiversity and ecosystem services”, is now “Protect and restore ecosystem services and biodiversity, and LCAs are maintained and improved on and around farms”.
In this sense, the criteria indicators and objectives have changed. in the version 4.2, ecosystem issues were assessed, as dissolved oxygen in incoming waterways (this indicator aims to ensure that the plant does not pollute the environment through the release of untreated or inadequately treated effluents); assess the percentage of areas as legally protected or classified as High Conservation Value Areas (AAVC) planted with sugar cane; implement an effective Environmental Impact Management Plan that covers 90% of the main environmental issues, in addition to indicators that address the application of agrochemicals and fertilizers in the soil, aiming to optimize their use and soil conservation based on environmental sustainability.
In version criteria 5.1, the first indicator takes another bias, addressing the mapping of ecosystem services and biodiversity in and around farm areas, in order to develop a Biodiversity Management Plan; furthermore, Finally, there is a concern to ensure that hazardous chemicals and materials do not negatively affect ecosystem services and biodiversity..
Despite such changes, concern remained with the assessment of the percentage of areas as legally protected, with soil health, the proper implementation of an Environmental Impact Management Plan (EIMP) to cover the main environmental issues, with guidance for fertilizer application (N P K- Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) and guidance regarding the application of agrochemicals.
As already mentioned as an indicator maintained in the version 5.1, in addition to being one of the main production standards, an Environmental Impact Management Plan (EIMP, in English) aims to identify the impact of activities on the environment and propose and manage a set of actions aimed at mitigating negative impacts and managing natural resources. The main environmental issues to be covered by the Plan are: Biodiversity, prioritizing points such as the conservation of natural fauna and flora, habitats and conservation of natural areas; Ecosystem Services, such as protection or restoration of riparian areas and management of areas of high conservation value; Solo, taking into account nutrient loss, erosion, alkalinization, acidification, compression; Water, considering availability of water resources, pollution of watersheds; among others like Air, climate change (GHG emissions), Use of agrochemicals, Use of artificial fertilizers, Cane burning and Waste and noise.
National legislation on the Bonsucro Production Standard
There are points where there is a certain clash between the priorities and guidelines of the Bonsucro Production Standard and national laws, noted at the beginning 4. This issue is presented and better explained in the indicator 4.1.6 of the version 4.2 of the Standard, being “Prohibited agrochemicals applied per hectare per year”, that in the version 5.1 it is in 4.4.5 – “Banned agrochemicals applied per hectare per year”. The indicator aims to ensure that no prohibited pesticides are used on farms, and lists some agrochemicals that should not be used, such as List Ia and List Ib of the Classification of Pesticides according to the Degree of Hazard, recommended by WHO (for more details go to standard official document 5.1).
at the end, it is made explicit that when national legislation goes against one of the conventions, international protocols or WHO lists, allowing only prohibited agrochemicals and, therefore, no alternative that is not prohibited is permitted by law, national law must be complied with, returning to the point from the original Principles that national laws should not override the guidelines of the Bonsucro Production Standard. On v5.1, advises that in cases where there are no legally registered non-prohibited alternatives for use, research must be carried out and documented to determine this, considering that alternative chemical or non-chemical controls may be used. If this research confirms that no non-prohibited chemical or non-chemical alternatives are available, the use of a prohibited agrochemical product is tolerated.
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