Marcos Jank, president of the Brazilian sugarcane industry association UNICA, announced his resignation from the group Tuesday.

"As I prepare to move on to new challenges, there is still much to be done at UNICA and in agribusiness as a whole, because of its vital and growing importance in the search for solutions to major global issues connected to food and energy security, particularly considering population growth and the scarcity of natural resources," Jank said in a statement.

UNICA´s board of directors was officially notified of his decision Tuesday at its headquarters in Sao Paulo.

Jank will remain in the position until a new president is appointed following a selection process that will be launched in the next few days.