Sugarcane as a renewable resource for sustainable futures

Description

Sugarcane is not only the main source of sucrose but also the world’s most important energy crop with an important role in the global sustainability transition, owing to its high productivity, its concentration in developing and emerging economies and the wide array of commercial products that it can provide. This chapter describes the diversification of sugarcane production systems into multiple energy and non-energy products, improving economic competitiveness and environmental sustainability. The chapter examines how improved sugarcane production can contribute to social equality where good governance and inclusive institutions are designed and implemented. It also focuses on sustainability assessment, including the entire supply chain from cultivation through end use. The chapter finally describes the development of bio-refineries using sugarcane as feedstock and examines the ways in which efficient and effective use of sugarcane resources supports sustainable development pathways.

Table of contents

1 Introduction 2 Sugarcane resources and co-products 3 Sustainability for sugarcane-based biomass, bioenergy and biofuels 4 Agricultural operations and land use 5 Lifecycle performance and assessment 6 A brief case study in Brazil 7 Conclusion 8 References