How Brazil Dominates Sugar Production Without Burning Fields | Big Business | Business Insider

Summary

The video explores the sugarcane industry's reliance on burning fields for easier harvesting, despite its environmental and health impacts. It contrasts the US, where this practice continues, with Brazil, which has largely transitioned to green harvesting methods. The script discusses the challenges of transitioning, including the need for pesticides and the difficulty of processing raw cane. It also highlights the role of ethanol production in Brazil's shift away from burning and the lack of similar incentives in the US, where the sugar industry disputes pollution claims and continues traditional methods.

Takeaways

• 🌱 Most of the world's sugar is produced from sugarcane, which is traditionally harvested by burning fields to remove leaves and simplify collection.
• 🔥 In Florida, a leading US sugar producer, the smoke from sugarcane fires can be seen from miles away and is linked to health issues, including potential deaths.
• 🌎 Brazil, the largest sugar producer globally, has largely transitioned to a no-burn harvesting method known as green harvesting, which is more sustainable.
• 🛠️ Green harvesting uses machinery to cut the cane and separate leaves without burning, preserving the soil and reducing the need for pesticides.
• 🌾 Retaining the leaves on the field helps maintain soil health by preventing water loss, erosion, and enriching the soil with nutrients.
• 🚫 Despite the benefits, green harvesting is harder to implement in Florida due to the state's moist soil and high organic matter, which can negatively affect crop quality if too many leaves are left.
• 🌿 Brazil's push towards green harvesting was significantly driven by the production of ethanol, a biofuel that can reduce CO2 emissions if not produced through burning fields.
• 💵 The US sugar industry disputes claims of pollution, and large producers in Florida argue that their practices have minimal impact on air quality.
• 🏠 Residents living near sugarcane fields in Florida have reported health issues, such as asthma, which are suspected to be linked to the pollution from burning.
• 📉 The US government subsidizes sugar production, but most support goes to other crops, and there's no significant incentive for green harvesting practices in the sugarcane industry.

Q & A

What is the primary source of sugar in the world?

Most of the world's sugar comes from sugarcane.

Why do farmers set their sugarcane fields on fire before harvesting?

Farmers set their fields on fire to get rid of leaves, making it easier to collect the valuable cane full of sweet juice.

What is the estimated impact of sugarcane fires on human health in South Florida?

It is estimated that between one and six deaths likely happen across South Florida as a result of sugarcane fires.

How did Brazilian farmers change their sugarcane harvesting practices?

Brazilian farmers figured out how to harvest sugarcane without burning, a method known as green harvesting.

What are the benefits of green harvesting sugarcane in Brazil?

Green harvesting helps retain the valuable juice for longer, shields the ground from water loss and erosion, and keeps the soil rich in nutrients.

What is the role of ethanol in the shift to green harvesting practices in Brazil?

Ethanol, a biofuel made from sugarcane, has been a key incentive to stop the burns, as it burns cleaner than gasoline and emits 62% less CO2.

What was the impact of the Brazilian government's investment in ethanol on sugarcane production?

The investment led to a tripling of sugarcane production in just one decade and the growth of land used for the crop by five times since the '70s.

What is the current percentage of green-harvested sugarcane in São Paulo, Brazil?

By 2014, 90% of the cane in São Paulo was green-harvested.

Why is burning still practiced in the US sugar industry despite the green harvesting method's success in Brazil?

Burning is still practiced in the US because it's faster and reduces the need for pesticides. Additionally, there are no regulations or incentives for green harvesting.

What are the health risks associated with inhaling smoke from sugarcane burning?

Inhaling smoke from sugarcane burning can cause breathing difficulties, increase the risk of cancer and heart disease, and lead to higher mortality.

How do Florida's environmental conditions affect the feasibility of green harvesting compared to Brazil?

Florida's moist soil, which is already high in organic matter, can be negatively affected by adding too much leaf material from green harvesting, potentially impacting crop quality.

Outlines

00:00

🔥 Sugarcane Harvesting and Environmental Impact

The paragraph discusses the global sugar industry's reliance on sugarcane as a primary source of sugar, with a focus on the traditional method of burning fields to facilitate harvesting. This practice, prevalent in Florida and previously in Brazil, is shown to have significant environmental and health consequences, including potential deaths due to smoke inhalation. The narrative contrasts this with Brazil's shift to green harvesting, a method that avoids burning and preserves the soil's nutrient content, although it requires the use of pesticides and new processing chemicals. The paragraph also touches on the economic and environmental benefits of ethanol production from sugarcane, which has been a driving factor in Brazil's move away from burning.

05:08

🌱 Brazil's Transition to Green Harvesting and Ethanol Production

This paragraph details Brazil's transition from traditional sugarcane harvesting methods to green harvesting, spurred by the government's investment in ethanol production and flex-fuel cars. The shift has been largely successful, with 90% of sugarcane in São Paulo being green-harvested by 2014. The benefits of this transition are highlighted, including reduced greenhouse gas emissions and the potential for ethanol to serve as a cleaner alternative to gasoline. However, the paragraph also notes the challenges faced by Brazil's international market presence due to the environmental concerns associated with burning practices in other sugar-producing countries.

10:10

🌤️ Challenges of Implementing Green Harvesting in Florida

The final paragraph addresses the challenges and considerations for adopting green harvesting practices in Florida. It contrasts the environmental conditions and agricultural practices in Florida with those in Brazil, highlighting the differences in soil composition and the potential for leaf litter to affect crop quality. The lack of regulations or incentives for green harvesting in the U.S. is noted, along with the economic implications for farmers who might face increased pest pressure and crop failure without the use of burning. The paragraph concludes with the perspective of a local resident affected by the burning practices, emphasizing the need for change despite the existing challenges.

Keywords

💡Sugarcane

Sugarcane is a tropical grass from which sugar is produced. It is a key crop in the sugar industry and the focus of the video's discussion on harvesting practices. The video mentions that most of the world's sugar comes from sugarcane, highlighting its economic importance. The traditional method of harvesting sugarcane involves setting fields on fire to remove leaves and facilitate the collection of the cane, which is rich in sweet juice.

💡Green Harvesting

Green harvesting refers to the practice of harvesting sugarcane without burning the fields. This method is showcased in the video as an alternative to traditional burning, which is harmful to the environment and human health. Green harvesting is used in Brazil, where farmers have adopted machinery to separate leaves from the stalks, thus preserving the soil and the cane's valuable juice. The video contrasts this method with the traditional burning practices still prevalent in the US, particularly in Florida.

💡Ethanol

Ethanol is a biofuel that can be produced from sugarcane. The video discusses how Brazil's sugarcane industry has diversified into ethanol production, which has been a key incentive for farmers to stop burning fields. Ethanol is noted to burn cleaner than gasoline and emit less CO2, making it an environmentally friendly alternative. However, the video points out that these benefits are negated if fields are burned prior to harvesting.

💡Bagasse

Bagasse is the fibrous residue left after the extraction of juice from sugarcane. In the context of the video, bagasse is mentioned as a byproduct that is burned in an incinerator to power the sugarcane processing facility in Brazil. This use of bagasse represents a form of renewable energy and is part of the industry's efforts to reduce its environmental impact.

💡Pesticides

Pesticides are chemicals used to control pests, such as insects and rats, which can damage crops. The video discusses how green harvesting practices can lead to an increase in the need for pesticides, as the absence of burning means that pests are not controlled as effectively. This is a downside of green harvesting that farmers in Brazil have had to contend with, and it's a factor that influences the decision to burn or not to burn fields.

💡PM 2.5

PM 2.5 refers to particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers, which is about 30 times smaller than a human hair. These particles are mentioned in the video as being released during the burning of sugarcane fields and can cause significant health issues, including breathing difficulties, increased risk of cancer, and heart disease. The video cites a study that found high concentrations of PM 2.5 during the burning season in Florida.

💡Air Quality

Air quality refers to the condition of the air in terms of its capacity to support life and avoid harm to humans and the environment. The video discusses the impact of sugarcane field burning on air quality, with residents near farms experiencing health issues like asthma. The video contrasts the sugar industry's claims of having zero impact on air quality with evidence from studies and the experiences of local residents.

💡Subsidies

Subsidies are financial assistance provided by the government to support a particular industry or sector. In the video, it is mentioned that the US subsidizes sugar production, but most of these subsidies go to large producers of other crops like wheat, soy, and corn. The lack of subsidies and incentives for green harvesting practices in the sugarcane industry is highlighted as a barrier to adopting more environmentally friendly methods.

💡Flex-Fuel Cars

Flex-fuel cars are vehicles capable of running on any blend of gasoline and ethanol, or on ethanol alone. The video discusses how the Brazilian government's investment in flex-fuel cars in the 2000s contributed to a surge in sugarcane production for ethanol. This policy helped to create a market for ethanol and incentivized the shift away from burning fields during sugarcane harvesting.

💡Environmental Stewardship

Environmental stewardship refers to the responsible management and protection of the environment. The video touches on this concept through discussions with farmers who must balance the need to control pests and maintain crop health with the desire to be good environmental stewards. The decision to burn or not to burn fields is presented as a complex issue that involves weighing the immediate benefits of burning against the long-term environmental consequences.

Highlights

Most of the world's sugar comes from sugarcane, but harvesting it is labor-intensive and traditionally involves burning fields to simplify the process.

In Florida, the largest producer in the US, sugarcane fires create smoke clouds visible from miles away and are linked to health issues, including estimated deaths.

Brazil, the world's largest sugar producer, has largely moved away from burning, adopting a method called green harvesting that is both efficient and environmentally friendly.

Green harvesting in Brazil uses machinery to cut and separate the cane, reducing the need for burning and preserving the valuable juice within the cane.

The practice of burning sugarcane fields is declining in Brazil due to the benefits of green harvesting, which include soil protection and nutrient retention.

The shift to green harvesting in Brazil was incentivized by the government's push for ethanol production, a cleaner biofuel made from sugarcane.

Ethanol production from sugarcane has been a key driver in reducing the environmental impact of the industry in Brazil, as it emits less CO2 compared to gasoline.

In contrast to Brazil, the US continues to use burning as a primary method for sugarcane harvesting, despite the negative health and environmental effects.

Florida's sugar industry disputes claims of pollution, arguing that air quality in areas where burning occurs is better than the state average.

Residents near sugarcane farms in Florida report health issues such as asthma, which are supported by studies showing increased concentrations of harmful particles during the burning season.

The US sugar industry, valued at $13 billion, is heavily subsidized, but most subsidies go to crops like wheat, soy, and corn, not sugarcane.

Florida's moist soil and high organic matter make green harvesting challenging, as adding leaf material can negatively impact crop quality.

Lack of regulations and incentives for green harvesting in the US means that burning remains the norm, despite the availability of similar machinery to Brazil.

The US primarily uses corn for ethanol production, which limits the market potential for sugarcane-based ethanol and affects the adoption of green harvesting practices.

Farmers in Florida face a dilemma between environmental stewardship and practical considerations, such as pest control and crop health, which currently favor the use of burning.

The narrative highlights the need for policy changes and economic incentives to encourage a shift towards green harvesting in the US sugar industry.

Residents affected by sugarcane burning, like Reggie Goodgame, are left to advocate for change, as the current practices continue to impact their health and quality of life.

Transcripts

Narrator: Most of the world's sugar comes from sugarcane.

But the plant is so difficult to harvest

that farmers usually set their fields on fire first.

That's to get rid of leaves, so they can easily collect

the valuable cane full of sweet juice.

In Florida, the biggest producer in the US,

the smoke clouds can be seen from miles away.

We estimated that between one and six deaths

likely happen across South Florida

as a result of sugarcane fires.

Narrator: It used to be the same story down in Brazil,

the largest sugar producer in the world.

But a few decades ago, farmers figured out

how to harvest without burns.

So why does the US keep setting its fields ablaze?

And what will it take to shift

this multibillion-dollar industry?

For centuries, workers across the world

harvested sugarcane by hand.

Clearing tough leaves with a machete was time-consuming

and took a toll on workers' bodies.

Burning made it much faster and saved companies money.

It also helped drive out unwanted pests,

like insects and rats.

But nowadays in Brazil,

most farmers harvest it raw, without the need for burning.

The method is known as green harvesting.

Narrator: José Leandro manages nearly 80,000 acres

of sugarcane in São Paulo.

Narrator: This circular saw first cuts off

the top of the cane.

A fan separates leaves from the stalk

and then blows the unwanted plant material onto the ground.

Narrator: Brazil's red soils are dry

and low in organic matter.

The leaves shield the ground from water loss and erosion

and keep it rich in nutrients.

Narrator: Raw cane also retains the valuable juice

for longer.

Narrator: Tiago is the agricultural director of this farm.

He's proud of the changes they've made,

but he and José recognize there are downsides.

Narrator: Many farms have to rely on pesticides

to keep them out.

The raw cane is also harder to process

because it has extra leaf litter and impurities.

Factories had to develop new chemicals to break it all down.

Narrator: They shred the cane

and then crush it inside mills.

The juice is pressed from the pulp and purified,

then boiled and reduced to a syrup

and spun in a centrifuge to separate the sugar crystals.

The process is not entirely without fire.

Leftover fibers called bagasse are burned in an incinerator

that powers the facility.

But here in Brazil, it's not all about sugar.

More than half of the sugarcane harvested

is used to make a biofuel called ethanol,

and that has been the key incentive to stop the burns.

Narrator: Ethanol burns cleaner than gasoline

and emits 62% less CO2,

but only if you're not setting the fields on fire

to begin with.

The Brazilian government began investing

in its ethanol program in 1975

when oil prices soared.

Narrator: Sugarcane production tripled in just one decade.

The second production spike came in the 2000s,

when the government invested in flex-fuel cars

that could run on ethanol alone.

Since the '70s, the amount of land used for the crop

grew five times in size,

mostly in the state of São Paulo.

But as the farms spread, so did the burns.

That made Brazil's ethanol a hard sell

in international markets, as more countries were looking

to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.

In 2002, the state of São Paulo signed a law

giving farmers about three decades to end the burns.

New public policies, government funding,

and a spike in foreign investments

helped farmers phase out burns.

And it worked.

By 2014, 90% of the cane in São Paulo was green-harvested.

Today, Brazil is the second-largest producer

of ethanol in the world,

making more than 8 billion gallons in 2023 —

behind only the United States.

Narrator: But burning is still practiced

in many top-producing countries across the world,

including India and Thailand.

And it's common in the winter months in Florida,

where large sugar companies like U.S. Sugar

and Florida Crystals operate.

Residents who live near farms often see

giant clouds of smoke forming from their backyards.

Narrator: The plumes are so large,

you can even spot them in satellite imagery.

The state issues more than 8,000 permits

for burns every season.

Most happen in the rural region of Palm Beach County,

known as the Glades.

On windy days, burns aren't allowed.

But when there's only a breeze,

they are permitted if it's blowing inland,

which keeps the smoke away from the more populated,

wealthier areas.

There are no burns in the summer,

which is when Reggie Goodgame and his wife

bought their home.

Just felt comfortable. And then all of a sudden,

all hell broke loose, man.

Narrator: Within two years, Reggie's wife, Naomi,

began having asthma attacks.

It's hard to prove the burns caused them,

but the couple don't see it as a coincidence.

Narrator: EPA data shows Glades residents

are among the most at risk for asthma in the country.

Narrator: All fires release toxic gases and particles.

Some particles called PM 2.5 have a diameter

30 times smaller than a human hair.

They can go deep into our lungs

and make their way into our bloodstream.

Inhaling too many can cause breathing difficulties

and increase the risk of cancer and heart disease.

A Florida State University study

found a higher concentration of those particles

during the burning season in winter months.

We found that the fine particles

generated by burning sugarcane

is about equal to the fine particles that are produced

by all of the vehicles in the state of Florida.

Narrator: The $13 billion US sugar industry

often disputes pollution claims.

Christopher: Many statements from the sugar industry

have suggested that they have zero impact on air quality.

Well, the evidence shows otherwise.

Narrator: U.S. Sugar, one of the largest producers

in Florida, has released reports

showing that air quality in the Glades

is better than the state average.

But because the burns are so localized

and often short-lived, air-quality monitors

don't always pick up the smoke.

And local residents who get in the way of the plumes

told us they see and feel the effects immediately.

From many, many studies across the globe,

we know that inhaling higher concentrations

leads to higher mortality.

Narrator: We reached out to U.S. Sugar, Florida Crystals,

and the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida,

but they didn't respond.

Many farms in Florida already have machines

similar to the ones in Brazil,

but here they're mostly used to harvest cane

after the fields are already burned.

Farmers will sometimes opt for green harvesting

when it rains or when it's too windy.

But burns are still the norm because they're faster

and reduce the need for pesticides.

Michelle: If we want to reduce pest pressure

and we want to reduce pesticides

and we want to be the best stewards of the land,

sometimes that burn is just the best answer

to being the best environmental stewards they can be.

Narrator: Another problem is that Florida's moist soil

is already high in organic matter,

so adding too much leaf material

can affect the quality of the crops.

Matthew: It kind of produces an environment

that's not really selecting for the plant

to just jump up and start ratooning over again.

That's probably the biggest difference that I see

between the science of sugarcane

here in South Florida versus Brazil.

It's our environment.

Narrator: Unlike in Brazil, there are no regulations

that require or incentivize green harvesting here.

Michelle: Let's say you do green harvesting

and you have all these pest issues

and you don't have a healthy regrowth of the crop.

In other parts of the world, sometimes the government

will essentially bail these farmers out.

So, I mean, if they would really want us all

to switch to green, there would need to be

a lot of tax dollars being spent

to the farmer when their crop fails.

Narrator: The US does subsidize sugar production,

with an estimated net cost to the economy

of $1 billion each year.

But the majority of the US subsidies go to large producers

of more popular crops like wheat, soy, and corn.

And the US makes most of its ethanol from corn,

leaving little room for a potential

sugarcane ethanol market.

There's no farmer out there that wants to go out

and spray pesticides or wants to go out and burn,

but at the end of the day, that's just not an option.

Narrator: Meanwhile, Reggie feels like

he has little choice but to stay and fight.

Reggie: I don't want to give up this house for this burning,

but something has to happen, man.

Can't keep burning and burning.