Title: Brazilian sugarcane sector: an economic and environmental approach

Authors: Edenis Cesar De Oliveira

Addresses: Nature Science Center (NSC), Campus Lagoa do Sino, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), Rua Serafin Libaneo, 04 – CP 64 – Centro – CEP 18245-000, Campina do Monte Alegre, São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract: The Brazilian sugarcane industry constitutes a main player in the domestic economic environment and more specifically in the state of São Paulo. In this sense, engendering an economic and environmental analysis of the São Paulo sugarcane industry, and to identify possible points of conflict between the expansion of crop area and environmental conservation, constitutes the main objective of this essay. Using a combined approach with descriptive purposes, it was precede unstructured interview with technical manager of the Rural Association of Growers and Sugarcane Suppliers of Sorocaba region, primary documentary evidence obtained from the entity and secondary data from various official sources. The results showed that reduction in the number of agro-industrial units due to the strong economic crisis now facing the sector. However, the expansion of cultivation area has increased and, in parallel, the industry has been engaged in environmental conservation, especially with the increase of green areas, protection of water sources and reduced water consumption in the production process.

Keywords: sugarcane industry; economy; environmental responsibility; Brazil; crop expansion; environmental conservation; agro-industrial units; economic crisis; cultivation areas; green areas; water protection; water consumption.

DOI: 10.1504/LAJMSD.2016.078623

Latin American Journal of Management for Sustainable Development, 2016 Vol.3 No.1, pp.35 - 46

Received: 10 Feb 2016
Accepted: 05 Mar 2016
Published online: 26 Aug 2016 *

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