In this archipelago of the French West Indies, about 90% of cane production is delivered to sugar factories, the rest to agricultural rum distilleries.

This year, the harvest almost did not start because of a disagreement over the price of a ton of cane, set every five years by an agreement signed by industrialists, agricultural unions and the State.

Wilhem Monrose, erected as spokesman for a collective of cane planters in Nord Grande-Terre, led a strike on this subject just before the start of the campaign in April.

According to this producer, who claims to have "given up cutting his cane this year so as not to lose money", the selling price per tonne does not take into account the increase in the cost of production due in particular to the global geopolitical context.

This year, the price was set at a maximum of €113 per tonne, compared to €84 the previous year. But "we are estimated, with our calculations, that the honest amount of the price of cane would be at least 150 euros," says Mr. Monrose.

After a few days of deadlock, negotiations resumed in mid-April under the auspices of the State. "It was necessary to agree on a basic price to secure the start of the sugar season," recalls MP Olivier Serva, appointed mediator.

Cane sugar has been a pillar of the local economy since colonization in the seventeenth century: to cultivate cane and meet international demand for sugar, planters had brought thousands of slaves to the West Indies.

Since the advent of beet sugar in the nineteenth century, the product has been even more competitive on world markets.

Soon an organic sugar?

In Guadeloupe, for about ten years, "45,000 to 50,000 tons of sugar have been produced on the Gardel factory" in Le Moule, northeast of Grande-Terre, according to Nicolas Philippot, boss of this industrial site created at the end of the nineteenth century. In addition, there are a few thousand tons from the factory on the island of Marie-Galante.

For comparison, Martinique produces 1,500 tons and Reunion about 150,000.

Cane sugar has been a mainstay of the local economy since colonization in the seventeenth century © Helene Valenzuela / AFP/Archives

"More and more, we are turning to special sugars" (for direct consumption, as opposed to bulk sugar intended for refining), says Philippot, adding that the 2023 season will result in nearly 60% of special sugars.

Despite the higher price of these sugars - "700 to 800 euros per tonne against 400 for the ton of bulk", according to Mr. Philippot - this industry is not profitable, constrained by world sugar prices.

The sector, including in its industrial dimension, is held only by public money, whose subsidy rates "in relation to turnover, oscillate between 80% and 205% for sugar factories in Reunion and Guadeloupe", according to a government report on the prospects of the sector dating from 2021.

The prefecture of Guadeloupe had explained in early April that the direct support of the State and Europe would amount annually "to 55.6 million euros, including 27 million for planters and 28.6 million for industrialists".

All the actors proclaim their attachment to this sector which, although unprofitable, occupies 12,400 hectares (according to the annual report of the Institute of emission of the overseas departments), or 39% of the useful agricultural area of Guadeloupe.

"It supports tens of thousands of families in direct jobs," says Ferdy Créantor, president of an agricultural cooperative in Marie-Galante.

"Make no mistake, the sector has a future," says Olivier Serva.

It is counting in particular on the launch of organic sugar in Guadeloupe, by 2024. Nicolas Philippot thus studies the best industrial adjustments for this production.

As for an appellation of origin, which has been under consideration for years, the reflection is still ongoing.

© 2023 AFP