Measuring climate change’s impact on different sugarcane varieties production in the South of Goiás

Abstract

A crucial aspect analysed during the last years, aiming to improve sugarcane production, is the impact of climate change on sugarcane productivity. One of the strategies to mitigate climate change's impact on sugarcane yield is the development of new varieties known to positively affect crop production. This paper analysed how climate change impacts sugarcane production regarding the different planted varieties. Data regarding sugarcane harvest were collected from a cooperative in the south of Goiás state—Brazil, the second biggest national sugarcane producer. Results indicate that climate impact on sugarcane yield is irrelevant when controlling for different varieties. Considering the results presented in this work, the Brazilian government should keep the incentives for the development of new sugarcane varieties and, at the same time, spur sugarcane producers to use the new sugarcane varieties. The results imply that if the variety is correctly chosen, sugarcane can be produced without harming the environment, contributing to reaching SDG 15. Moreover, it is less probable that an adverse climatic event will destroy the planted area, preventing sugarcane producers from severe loss and contributing to achieving SDGs number 1 and 2.

Five decades of productivity gains in the Louisiana sugar industry

“…Varieties have played a pivotal role in the establishment and sustainability of sugarcane industries all over the world (Da Cruz & Machado, 2023;Hogarth, 1976;Lakshmanan et al, 2022), and Louisiana is no exception. Almost all industries and their corresponding variety development programs have benefitted to some extent from the free exchange of varieties and breeding material (Hogarth & Berding, 1996).…”