The Oil Drum: Europe

30 comments on From sweet on the table to fuel in the tank: the millenary history of Sugar Cane

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Blue Peter on March 23, 2007 - 11:24am

Luis,

You talk about the destructive nature of sugar cane production. I seem to remember that in some of last year's discussions of bio-ethanol there was reference to a Brazilian set up with a reasonable EROEI (8-ish?) and which also did not deplete its soil. I don't remember the details, but is this an oddity? or a way forward for sugar cane production?

Peter.

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Luis de Sousa on March 23, 2007 - 11:51am

Hi Peter,

Sugar cane was a destructive culture because it replaced immense areas of natural habitats, like the Atlantic Forest.

Check Robert’s post on Sugar Cane you’ll see that its culture depletes the topsoil, even though at a slow rate. Modern intensive Agriculture in general is not sustainable.

That 1:8 EROEI is probably an overestimate, Nate will tell you that those calculations are probably wrong. Anyway, from the brasilian 1980s experience I think there’s a good positive energy return for sugar cane ethanol.