The sugar-energy sector has been marked by a scenario of growth and transformation. In the 2021-2022 harvest, the value of agricultural production in Brazil reached a record 743.3 billion reais in 2021, an increase of 58.6% over the previous year. In the country where sugarcane is the main raw material for the production of sugar and ethanol, having already evolved for the generation of electricity and other derivatives, its concept has been adapting over time, changing from sugarcane plant for production units, biofactories, biorefineries or, more recently, bioenergy parks.

One of the main changes that have taken place in the sector, however, is the improvement of crop management, which, in the search for sustainable production methods, has been investing in new practices. Encouraging sustainability and technology in the field is proving to be fundamental to favoring the productive performance of sugarcane, reducing costs and minimizing the environmental impact of operations. Today, more than ever, it is necessary to respect the characteristics of the soil and implement more efficient methods of conservation, always observing each productive reality, defining the ideal period for cutting areas and varietal, operational and logistical criteria. A sustainable approach to agriculture seeks to use natural resources, so that, from there, activities such as the application of irrigation pesticides and monitoring of planting failures have become more efficient.

Brazil consumes 8% of the entire world production of pesticides, valued at 55 million tons, but imports 85% of the input used by agribusiness, mainly from Russia, which suffers a strong economic embargo promoted by the United States, countries in Western Europe and Japan, because of the war in Ukraine. Currently, fertilizers made from sugarcane residues promise to increase productivity and reduce the environmental impacts of the cultivation of various raw materials. In sugarcane, the use of vinasse and filter cake, the main residues of the sugarcane industry, has been increasingly intensified.

In order to reuse the greatest possible amount of what is left in the sugarcane fields, systems already exist that allow the use of composted filter cake, enriched with minerals and microorganisms. With this organomineral fertilizer, it is possible to replace the application of fertilizers of mineral and fossil origin, making management more sustainable, as it reduces chemical interference in the soil.

In a context where it is increasingly necessary to guarantee efficiency in the use of water, irrigation is one of the factors that can help a crop reach the maximum of its productive potential. Factors such as irrigation management and the use of tools, such as data from weather stations, installation of soil sensors and preventive maintenance to avoid possible leaks, can influence the reduction in total water consumption in sugarcane fields by up to 30%. As an example of this, the estimate is that drip-irrigated areas produce, on average, about 40 tons of sugarcane more compared to rainfed crops, not counting the greater longevity, permanence time of the crop in the field, which can last up to 5 years longer.

Drip irrigation, the most used irrigation method, when compared to other procedures (surface, micro-sprinkling or conventional), gains space because it has the advantage of reducing water consumption by avoiding evaporation and surface runoff, aspects achieved from the operation of low pressure and that benefit the stabilization of productivity over the years. Through increased productivity, rational use of water and low consumption of electricity, irrigation helps to optimize costs to produce more tons of sugarcane, as well as increasing efficiency in processes.

In terms of resource optimization and sustainable benefits for the sugarcane chain, there is also biological control, which regulates the population of living organisms that cause damage to the crop. The solution is a viable, efficient and low-cost strategy, especially for the two types of pests that most attack sugarcane: the borer and the root spittlebug, which can devastate entire cane fields. The main ways to eliminate this type of pest are through chemical and biological control, but today there are technologies that distribute predatory flies in sugarcane fields inside biodegradable capsules launched by drones, making it possible to minimize the impact caused to the soil, the environment and the crop.

Other many solutions stand out: expansion of the use of vinasse, which optimizes the use of water resources and agricultural inputs; crop rotation, with planned alternation in the same area; correctives, which allow soil pH balance and nutrient absorption for crops; biostimulants, a management practice that can encourage the productivity of sugarcane fields if combined with the physiological maintenance of the sugarcane; among other benefits.

The sugar-energy sector is strategically positioned in the face of the growing demand for alternative energy sources to oil and derivatives, but to produce other products, quality sugarcane is needed. Adding implements and cutting-edge technology is important, but what will guarantee greater efficiency and determine the development of new solutions is reaching the “three digits” in sugarcane, taking care of the land and making the best use of inputs. What is important, above all, is to carry out operations with a focus on production, without forgetting the importance of maintaining productive resources.