Guatemala leads the regional effort with Alfredo Vila as president of the Latin American Sugar Producers Union (UNALA) and president of Asazgua
UNALA, which brings together the sugarcane and sugar beet agroindustry from 14 Latin American countries and is a member of the United Nations’ Water and Energy Sustainable Solutions Network, presented 17 case studies at the UN headquarters in New York. These studies highlight the contributions of Latin America’s agroindustry to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The case studies document the most notable contributions and include projects related to environmental sustainability, social inclusion, technological innovation, rural development, renewable energy, job creation, among others. Each study follows a detailed structure, outlining specific objectives, challenges faced, results achieved, lessons learned, and its connection to multiple SDGs.
The event’s agenda, held at the Delegates Dining Room of the United Nations headquarters in New York, included opening remarks by Alfredo Vila, president of UNALA and Asazgua, followed by an address from Mr. Minoru Takada, Chief of the Energy Team at the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
The case studies were presented by Luis Miguel Paiz, Executive President of UNALA and General Manager of Asazgua, who also officially handed over the printed reports to the United Nations.
The event was attended by representatives of the United Nations system, diplomats, and business leaders from across Latin America.
Alfredo Vila emphasized: “This is not just a report—it is a historic milestone. For the first time, we have compiled the collective efforts of an entire sector across a region, demonstrating how Latin America’s sugar agroindustry actively contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals. This is a regional documentation that reflects not only individual initiatives but also a shared commitment to sustainability.”
Guatemala’s sugarcane agroindustry, through Asazgua, was the first private sector association in the world to develop case studies that systematically and technically demonstrate the sector’s concrete contribution to the achievement of the SDGs. This has allowed for consistent demonstration of the industry’s efforts and commitment to sustainable development.
The 17 case studies are available in English on UNALA’s website: https://unala.org/es/publicaciones/
