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  • ITGA Seeks Stories for World Tobacco Growers’ Day

    ITGA Seeks Stories for World Tobacco Growers’ Day

    The International Tobacco Growers’ Association (ITGA) is seeking short videos or written messages from members of the tobacco-growing community and wider industry ahead of World Tobacco Growers’ Day on Oct. 28. This year’s campaign, themed “Our Reality. Our Voice. Our Future.,” will highlight the experiences, role, and perspectives of tobacco growers and their communities. ITGA said contributions may include messages recognizing tobacco growers, their role in the sector, or the importance of their voices, and will be shared through the association’s communication channels around Oct. 28. Participants are asked to submit their contributions by Oct. 21.

  • ITGA Elects New President at Annual Meeting

    ITGA Elects New President at Annual Meeting

    The International Tobacco Growers’ Association (ITGA) concluded its 2026 Annual General Meeting at Messe Dortmund, Germany, during InterTabac, bringing together representatives of tobacco growers and grower organizations from major producing regions. The meeting marked a leadership transition, with Marcílio Drescher, president of Afubra in Brazil, elected ITGA president, succeeding José Javier Aranda. Members recognized Aranda’s four-year presidency and his work on advocacy, regional coordination, and engagement with international regulatory processes.

    Discussions at the meeting focused on global leaf production and market developments, grower economic sustainability and living income, regulatory developments, traceability, and environmental stewardship, changing nicotine-consumption trends, and regional advocacy coordination. ITGA said its work during 2026 included stronger member and partner engagement, expanded regional coordination, cooperation with InterTabac and InterSupply, an Americas Regional Meeting, continued regional activity in Africa, and living-income research involving more than 700 growers.

    Drescher said his priorities for the next mandate would include strengthening growers’ representation in international discussions, advancing understanding of growers’ economic realities and supporting the long-term viability of tobacco-growing communities.

  • ITGA Chief Calls for Better Incomes for Zimbabwe’s Tobacco Farmers

    ITGA Chief Calls for Better Incomes for Zimbabwe’s Tobacco Farmers

    Outgoing International Tobacco Growers Association (ITGA) President José Javier Aranda called on the Zimbabwe government, merchants, and contractors to prioritize farmers’ livelihoods, warning that the long-term sustainability of the global tobacco industry depends on growers earning a living income. Speaking at the ITGA Africa Regional Meeting 2026 in Harare, Aranda said tobacco farmers continue to bear rising production costs, climate-related risks, and increasing regulatory pressures while receiving shrinking returns, despite value creation elsewhere in the supply chain.

    Zimbabwe Agriculture Minister Anxious Masuka, speaking as both a government official and tobacco farmer, acknowledged that this season’s prices had been disappointing and noted production costs have risen about 90% since 2017, calling for targeted farmer support and measures to improve profitability. The meeting, which concludes this week, also highlighted concerns that oversupply is squeezing contractors and financiers, with delegates urging greater collaboration across the industry to strengthen grower incomes and ensure a sustainable future for the sector.

  • Brazil Attacking its Own Farmers, Critics Say

    Brazil Attacking its Own Farmers, Critics Say

    The International Tobacco Growers’ Association (ITGA) criticized Brazil for sending an “anti-tobacco” delegation to COP11, pointing out the hypocrisy for the third-largest tobacco grower in the world. In contrast, it pointed to Poland, which reportedly defended its 30,000 growers who held protests in Warsaw ahead of the conference.

    “Farmers also highlighted the hypocrisy of reducing European production only to replace it with imports,” the ITGA wrote in its daily update. “In Geneva, Poland’s delegation reinforced these concerns with strong statements defending growers and calling for balanced policymaking.

    “In stark contrast, Brazil—where more than 133,000 farming families rely on tobacco—has sent one of the most aggressively anti-tobacco delegations, showing little regard for the livelihoods at stake in its own domestic sector.”

    Romeu Schneider, vice president of Afubra (the Tobacco Growers’ Association of Brazil), voiced his opposition to the Brazilian government’s tobacco policy. “Brazil should never have ratified the FCTC, as it compromises national sovereignty and threatens Brazil’s tobacco market, which is valued for its quality and volume and has promoted many social and environmental initiatives in rural communities,” he said. “Tobacco is economically and financially crucial for a developing country like Brazil, yet current policies risk ceding this market to other countries. These measures are deeply concerning and place Brazilian producers in a difficult position, prompting strong indignation from our side.”

  • ITGA Marks 20 Years of Advocacy at WHO FCTC, Calls for Grower Inclusion

    ITGA Marks 20 Years of Advocacy at WHO FCTC, Calls for Grower Inclusion

    The International Tobacco Growers’ Association (ITGA) reaffirmed its commitment to representing millions of tobacco growers worldwide as the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) celebrates its 20th anniversary. In a statement, the organization said that for two decades, ITGA has engaged in the FCTC process, emphasizing the social and economic impacts of tobacco control policies on growers. The organization participated in the FCTC’s first public hearing and has attended every Conference of the Parties (COP), advocating for transparency and the inclusion of growers’ voices.

    As COP11 convenes, ITGA calls for continued dialogue, evidence-based policymaking, and policies that consider the livelihoods of families dependent on tobacco cultivation.

  • Happy World Tobacco Growers’ Day

    Happy World Tobacco Growers’ Day

    Each year since 2012, October 28 has been celebrated as World Tobacco Growers’ Day (WTGD), the date when Europeans reportedly first observed tobacco as Christopher Columbus arrived at the island that is now the Dominican Republic. Founded by the International Tobacco Growers’ Association (ITGA), the day is meant “to celebrate the legitimacy and dignity of the work carried out by millions of tobacco growers around the world.”

    “Since its establishment, World Tobacco Growers’ Day has been celebrated across many countries, honoring the dedication and contribution of farming communities,” the ITGA says. “In several nations, the day has even been formally institutionalized, becoming a proud annual tradition that recognizes the economic, cultural, and social importance of tobacco growers. A global day to honor those who cultivate the land and preserve a living heritage.

    “WTGD shines a light on the cultural, historical, and socio-economic legacy of tobacco growing — a livelihood that has shaped generations and sustained rural communities for centuries. Tobacco growers work in a legal and regulated market, and this day is about giving dignity and recognition to their honest labor and enduring contribution to the global agricultural landscape.”

  • ITGA Demands Inclusion Ahead of WHO COP11

    ITGA Demands Inclusion Ahead of WHO COP11

    On World Tobacco Growers’ Day, global tobacco farmers raised concerns over their continued exclusion from international policymaking, calling for transparency and inclusion ahead of next month’s WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Conference of the Parties (COP11) in Geneva. International Tobacco Growers’ Association president José Javier Aranda sent a letter saying the FCTC process has become increasingly opaque, with decisions made behind closed doors and little agricultural representation—fewer than 5% of delegates have expertise in farming. He warned that measures discussed at COP11 could impact millions of livelihoods across tobacco-producing nations.

    “We understand the concerns about the negative impact of tobacco consumption, and we support policies that are genuinely aimed at reducing harm,” Aranda said. “But what we cannot understand is why tobacco growers and their representatives are given such a fundamentally different treatment compared to other sectors.

    “As representatives of tobacco growers, we cannot remain silent. We raise our voice today to condemn this misconduct of the WHO FCTC Secretariat. Our governments must stand with us. I have already sent a letter to the WHO and the WHO FCTC, calling for transparency and inclusion. We expect to be heard.”

  • ITGA Meeting Focuses on Sustainability, Eyes COP11

    ITGA Meeting Focuses on Sustainability, Eyes COP11

    The International Tobacco Growers’ Association (ITGA) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) last week, with discussions covering market trends, regulation, and sustainability. Growers expressed concern over oversupply pressures and shrinking profitability, while new analysis from Euromonitor International suggested global leaf tobacco demand will remain stable in the medium term. ITGA stressed that advocacy must start with farmers’ lived experiences, which provide credibility and balance in regulatory debates.

    Looking ahead to COP11, ITGA warned of insufficient agricultural expertise in global policymaking and vowed to press for more inclusive dialogue. The AGM also reaffirmed its commitment to securing a living income for farmers, with ITGA President José Aranda cautioning that ignoring this issue could threaten entire markets.

  • ITGA Announces Annual Meeting

    ITGA Announces Annual Meeting

    Tobacco-producing countries from North, Central, and South America have been invited to participate in the International Tobacco Growers’ Association (ITGA) “Americas Regional Meeting on April 24 in Jujuy, Argentina

    The ITGA is convening stakeholders from the tobacco sector across the Americas to address key issues currently impacting the industry. This year’s discussions will place particular emphasis on the increasing regulatory pressure from the World Health Organization (WHO), driven by its Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which will host its Eleventh Conference of the Parties (COP11) this coming November.

    Brazil—currently the world’s largest exporter of tobacco and the second-largest producer after China—has taken one of the strongest opposing stances in the context of these WHO negotiations. The Brazilian Tobacco Growers’ Association (Afubra) will be in attendance to advocate for the socio-economic importance of tobacco in the regions where it is cultivated and to showcase initiatives that promote family farming both within and beyond the tobacco sector.

    “We must support our Brazilian brothers in defending the sector because it affects us all and must be seen as a joint struggle,” said José Aranda, president of the ITGA.

  • Pride in Tobacco

    Pride in Tobacco

    Photos courtesy of ITGA

    Participants in ITGA’s annual meeting debated the challenges and opportunities facing their sector and obtained an in-depth understanding of U.S. tobacco farming.

    By Ivan Genov

    Jose Javier Aranda

    The International Tobacco Growers Association (ITGA) held its 2024 annual general meeting (AGM) Oct.15–18 in Raleigh, North Carolina (N.C.), USA. The birthplace of flue-cured “bright leaf” was the perfect location to wrap up a year full of activities, which included regional meetings in the Americas and Africa, global campaigns and numerous visits focusing on grower challenges.

    Hosted by the Tobacco Growers Association of North Carolina (TGANC), the meeting included a four-day dynamic program concentrating on the practical side of farming in the U.S. Notably, the association’s members reelected the ITGA’s president, Jose Javier Aranda, for another term. His efforts to defend the legitimate interests of farmers around the world have expanded to most of the leading tobacco-growing markets. As a result, the AGM was attended by a record number of delegates, including representatives from Argentina, Brazil, the European Union, India, Malawi, the Philippines, Tanzania, the USA, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

    The meeting started with a guided tour of the Universal Leaf Factory in Nashville, North Carolina. The facility is the company’s biggest and most advanced plant in the world. Today, it has the capacity to process the entire yearly U.S. crop. Delegates from other regions were able to compare the process to their own markets, but the sheer size of the facility is surely to leave them with a lasting memory. This was followed by a visit to a live auction, a unique experience that is rarely seen in any other place. For example, tobacco growers from Kentucky were sad to note the absence of auctions in their state.

    Mercedes Vazquez

    The open day conference started with an overview of the ITGA’s strategic objectives. Currently, the ITGA focuses on four pillars—information, tobacco sector advocacy, strategic partnerships and reinforcement of the membership base. ITGA CEO Mercedes Vazquez went through the association’s substantial data reserves and capabilities, campaigns to help bring attention to the enormous socioeconomic impact of tobacco growing, such as the May 31 World Understanding Tobacco Farming Day and the Oct. 28 World Tobacco Growers Day, along with the association’s recent participation in the InterTabac/InterSupply trade fair, which presented four ITGA member associations an opportunity to obtain greater visibility. This is particularly important to entities such as Fedetabaco in Colombia, which went through an extraordinary transformation after leading companies left the market with little notice and no alternatives.

    Shane MacGuill, Euromonitor International’s global lead for nicotine and cannabis, provided an in-depth global overview of consumption trends. MacGuill noted that the U.S. market is characterized by an ongoing realignment of consumption behavior in the context of overall flat nicotine volume evolution. Among the most significant global tobacco drivers for the future will be regulatory innovation, including sustainability, cost-of-living crises and risk of impaired sensitivities, along with a broadening of the nicotine universe, according to MacGuill. Currently, the Middle East and Africa are the only cigarette markets experiencing growth, compared with significant declines in Europe and North America.

    The top volume growth cigarette markets in the next five years, according to Euromonitor, will be Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, Cambodia, Egypt and Lebanon while the biggest volume declines are expected in New Zealand, Australia, Denmark, the United Kingdom and Ireland. In the reduced-risk products space, heated tobacco is establishing itself as the key format as significant e-vapor value migrates to illicit markets. Euromonitor’s estimates of the total nicotine market (excluding China), which includes legal and illicit sales and all categories, traditional and novel, indicate striking overall nicotine resilience. In stick-equivalent terms, global volumes are expected to remain unchanged from 2018 to 2028. In addition, the reduced-risk categories are gaining share of the total nicotine universe, but by 2028, it is likely that cigarette sales will still account for three in every four nicotine units. Regarding one of the newest tobacco categories, nicotine pouches, growth is predominantly centered in the U.S., with no evidence of serious traction elsewhere. In the “beyond nicotine” category, manufacturers’ activity remains patchy as the cannabis revolution slows down.

    Ivan Genov, ITGA manager of tobacco industry analysis, provided information about tobacco leaf production trends. In 2024, the biggest tobacco variety, flue-cured Virginia (FCV) was characterized by short crops. Unfavorable weather affected some of the leading FCV markets. In Brazil, more humid and warmer climate resulted in lower productivity (see “The Great Scramble,” Tobacco Reporter, May 2024). FCV final volume output was 461 million kg against 551 million kg in 2023. Zimbabwe, which declared a state of disaster during the growing season, registered one of the lowest rainfalls on record. Consequently, production went from 296 million kg in 2023 to 231 million kg in 2024. At the same time, burley production is rising, with Malawi being one of the year’s star performers. The marketing season brought growth in both volume and value terms and expectations for an even better 2025. Another market to pay attention to, Tanzania, was unable to reach the government target of 200 million kg. Nevertheless, local growers produced 116 million kg, twice as much as in 2022. The local ministry of agriculture remains optimistic that Tanzania could become the biggest tobacco exporter in Africa. In summary, demand for tobacco leaf continues to exceed supply on the global markets. Major leaf dealers report low levels of uncommitted stocks, and tobacco is sold very quickly. Current forecasts suggest a larger crop in 2025, but problems that have built up for many years, including thin profit margins for growers, lack of continuity and other social and environmental issues, are now reaching a tipping point.

    The topic was further unpacked in a panel that was moderated by TGANC Executive Vice President Graham Boyd and featured leaf sales executives from Alliance One and Universal Leaf North America. While some expected the FCV market to balance in 2025 and burley in 2026, others, particularly in the audience, saw this happening in a longer time frame. Burley Stabilization Corp. CEO Daniel Green noted that three quarters of the U.S. burley production is now realized on the local U.S. market.

    A panel moderated by William Snell from the University of Kentucky and featuring farmers with many generations’ worth of experience also sparked a lot of debate. Growers were united in the opinion that the issues faced by growers are the same in every market. TGANC President Matt Grissom expressed another sentiment shared by many growers—that they grow tobacco because they love to do it. However, underlying market changes are putting strong pressure on the community. The U.S. tobacco buyout program was also discussed in detail. At its start, stakeholders expected farms to consolidate, individual farm operations to get bigger, production to shift westward and yields to improve. The first three happened as predicted, but the last one failed to materialize, with yields remaining flat. This was also the key focus of ITGA research in 2024. The association interviewed leading agronomy experts to uncover the reasons behind flat or declining yields—a trend that goes against that seen in crops like corn, soybean and cotton. The research identified common factors impacting all growers as well as ones relevant to small scale against commercial growers. After identifying the issue, the ITGA will continue to analyze the underlying factors and come up with ways to address them.

    The session also included a U.S. regulatory update by Universal Leaf Vice President of External Affairs Benjamin Dessart and a global regulatory overview by Michiel Reerink, international corporate affairs director and managing director at Alliance One International. Certain regulatory actions in the pipeline are likely to impact not only consumption but also the whole supply chain, including farmers. These include, for example, the discussions around nicotine reduction in the U.S. and the Due Diligence Directive in the European Union. Tracking regulations that impact growers directly remains a key focus area for the ITGA.

    As part of the AGM, delegates also visited a research farm in Oxford, North Carolina, where Loren Fisher, director of N.C. State Research Stations and Field Labs, explained how the U.S. conducts tobacco production research—how it allocates financing, for example, or how it handles technical aspects related to resilient varieties. ITGA delegates agreed that this is an incredible asset for local growers—one that needs to be kept at all costs. The group also visited a field where experts was noted that crop failures are welcome in the research environment as they help in the pursuit for productivity improvements for the future.

    Finally, ITGA delegates visited the N.C. State Fair, where tobacco featured prominently. The group witnessed a tobacco-stringing contest, visited the TGANC pavilion and came to appreciate the continuing importance of the golden leaf to their host state. This enduring significance was perhaps best captured by a sign stating that “North Carolina still has pride in tobacco”—a sentiment that was not only wholeheartedly shared by the AGM participants but even managed to grow stronger during their short visit to America’s Tobacco Belt.

    Ivan Genov is ITGA’s manager of tobacco industry analysis.