Sugarcane is a semi-perennial crop, with a hot and humid climate and which requires specific management to achieve its full development and, consequently, the expected return. Therefore, it is understood that practices outside of adequate standards will inevitably affect performance, especially productivity and maturation.

With the exception of the last harvest (2023/2024), there has been a sharp drop in plant productivity. Excluding a minority, the others showed a reduction in tons of stalks per hectare in previous harvests. This drop may have been caused by several reasons, namely:
1) expansion of the sugarcane area in areas previously not cultivated with sugarcane (pastures, eucalyptus, citrus) in less fertile areas, etc.;
2) problems with nutrition and management (aggravated with the latest internal and external crises);
3) reduction in renovation areas and consequent increase in the average number of cuts (historically the average sugarcane renewal rate was 17%; there was a drop to 13.5% and, currently, 15.8%);
4) average cutting age;
5) planting winter sugarcane, annual sugarcane and/or year-round planting;
6) increasing expansion of areas with mechanized harvesting.

Finally, important changes that occurred in the traditional management previously applied and that certainly had an impact contributed to the reduction in productivity in recent harvests. It is evident that, due to the different “agricultural years” that these sugarcane fields passed through, there were also influences of climate, temperature, rainfall, etc.

Obviously, there are many variables that influence the constant changes in crop productivity, so that, without a doubt, the varietal list is fundamental. If it weren't for this dynamism in development and release of promising new materials and/or varieties with superior characteristics to those already existing, the scenario would certainly be even worse and much more worrying.

In the featured image, it is possible to clearly notice the successive drops in productivity, as well as the variations from one harvest to another, with the exception of the 2023/2024 harvest, in which several factors converged and contributed to one of the most spectacular harvests in recent times in terms of productivity.

Challenge: We know that there are already technologies available on the market, including plants using the three-dimensional matrix, also known as “third axis”, permanent irrigation models, a focus on improving some important pillars that seek three-digit productivity, among others.

With the exception of some plants that have the condition of having their area fully irrigated, it was possible to notice that the good agricultural productivity of other units is more linked to the pillars and management of new varieties than to radical or disruptive changes in the sugarcane production system.

We identified in common, in some plants, that they work well on the eight pillars of high agricultural productivity:
1) varietal stand no flaws;
2) reduction of harvest losses;
3) appropriate planting strategies;
4) coherent harvest path;
5) bold sugarcane nutrition;
6) factors that reduce agricultural productivity under control (pests, weeds and diseases);
7) optimal production cycle;
8) economical irrigation.

New varieties: It is known that sugar cane is a highly water-responsive crop, meaning that this input alone brings a huge positive result in the search for productivity, combined with the hot climate and hours of adequate light. These elements (water, temperature and light) perhaps explain or justify why Brazil is the largest producer of sugar cane in the world.

A study carried out by physiologist Paul H. Moore (2009), Hawaii Agricultural Research Center, indicates the maximum theoretical potential of sugar cane at 472 tons per hectare. Therefore, it is not possible to talk about the main initiatives in relation to new sugarcane varieties without highlighting the fundamental basis where the entire process of new materials begins, that is, sugarcane varieties are of crucial importance in the process of seeking high productivity and maturation, with the variety research and development bodies (such as the Agronomic Institute, Sugarcane Technology Center, Ridesa) being the main providers and most relevant in the process of developing and releasing new sugarcane varieties, together with the collaboration of some universities, where it is a permanent struggle in search of new superior clones and future varieties that satisfy the sector's insatiable need.

In recent years, a significant change in the range of varieties has been noted, where materials that occupied and/or were commercially cultivated in large areas were giving way to new promising materials with high potential for productivity, wealth, health, eclectic as the production environment (soil), “harvestability” and longevity. Despite this being the desired objective, we have made a great contribution to the sector through the excellent work of research and varietal release bodies. sugar-energy with great variety options: IACs, CTCs, CVs, RBs.

However, we emphasize that it is not enough to have excellent varieties available on the market and not know how to get the most out of them. It is important to highlight that the correct allocation of varieties does not bring any additional cost, as the cost of doing it right or wrong will be the same. Therefore, if we choose the variety assertively, equalizing planting, harvesting times (materials for the beginning, middle and end of the harvest) and an adequate production environment, without a doubt we would already make a big leap in performance and economic return, where consequently, there will be no need to wait 5 or 6 cuts to try to correct an error possibly made in the formation of the sugarcane field.

Based on the importance of sugarcane varieties in the production chain of a plant, there are several alternatives in the sector for updating, providing information and exchanging experiences in relation to the varietal management used, such as benchmarking specific varieties by specialized companies in the sector, in which this exchange of experience and information generates knowledge to be applied, possible adjustments and/or corrections.

The tools mentioned above, being well used, explored and implemented correctly, certainly offer great guidance in relation to the ideal management to be applied to commercially cultivated varieties, that is, sharing these experiences and learning has added a lot to the sector. In my opinion, we are on the right path and at a time of high expectations regarding the coming years, with a diverse list of excellent varieties and promising clones that will serve sugarcane mills and producers in the most diverse production environments, including in “Ambiente E”, which, until recently, was one of the bottlenecks to be resolved and/or improved with new material options that meet this niche, and now, fortunately, there are already varieties emerging to fill this gap.