The fourth pillar of the NAS strategy aims to support existing farmers diversify within or out of sugar. Unfortunately, the NAS timetable predicted a longer period during which to design and execute a response. Developing an exit strategy for sugar, or devising ways of making sugar production profitable, is now an urgent task.

Given that cane farmers must take the final decision as to what they want to grow or how they wish to collaborate, this process must be driven by the cane growers, guided by a broader strategic framework developed by the industry as a whole and agreed by the stakeholders. This framework must establish who is eligible to benefit; the conditions for grant support and the modalities for implementation.