Brazil sugarcane crops

BIOENERGY. The sugars in sugarcane, produced from CO2, H2O, and sunshine via photosynthesis, can be converted into ethanol, which is used as an alternative to gasoline. In certain climates, such as that in Brazil, the sugarcane crop replenishes itself rapidly, making cane-based ethanol a sustainable fuel source. 

Guimaraesa JL, Frollini E, da Silva CG, Wypychc F, Satyanarayanac KG et al (2009) Characterization of banana, sugarcane bagasse and sponge gourd fibres of Brazil. Ind Crop Prod 30 407-415... 

Gasohol boosts octane rating and reduces emissions of carbon monoxide. From a resource viewpoint, because of its photosynthetic origin, alcohol may be considered a renewable resource rather than a depletable fossil fuel. Ethanol is most commonly produced biochemically by fermentation of carbohydrates. Brazil, a country that produces copious amounts of fermentable sugar from sugarcane, has been a leader in the manufacture of ethanol for fuel uses, with an annual production rate of about 24 billion liters. However, due to sugarcane crop shortfalls in 2009-2010, Brazil actually had to import some ethanol from the United States in early 2011 to make up for a deficiency in this fuel. 

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