International Journal of Molecular Evolution and Biodiversity 2024, Vol.14, No.2, 71-79 http://ecoevopublisher.com/index.php/ijmeb 72 1 Sugarcane Expansion: Scale and Locations 1.1 Key regions of the world where sugarcane production is expanding Sugarcane production is a significant agricultural activity with a widespread presence across the globe, primarily in tropical and subtropical regions. The expansion of sugarcane cultivation is notably prominent in Brazil, India, China, Thailand, Pakistan, and several countries in southern Africa. Brazil, in particular, stands out as the largest producer, followed by India. These regions have seen extensive agricultural landscapes transformed to accommodate the growing demand for sugarcane, driven by its use in sugar production and as a bioenergy crop (Heinrichs et al., 2017). In Brazil, the state of São Paulo is the heart of sugarcane production, accounting for about 60% of the country’s total production. The expansion is not limited to traditional areas but extends to newer frontiers like the states of Goiás and Mato Grosso do Sul, where sugarcane cultivation has increased significantly over the past decade. From 2003 to 2013, sugarcane area in Goiás expanded six-fold (Spera et al., 2017). Southern Africa is another region experiencing a surge in sugarcane production, with countries like South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe contributing to the growth. The potential to expand sustainable bioenergy from sugarcane in this region is significant, supported by both the climate and available arable land (Watson, 2011). 1.2 Statistics on land area converted for sugarcane cultivation over recent years The scale of land conversion for sugarcane cultivation is vast. In Brazil alone, the cultivated area for sugarcane was estimated to have expanded from about 5 million hectares in 2000 to more than 9 million hectares by 2010, with further increases projected. Much of this expansion has replaced pasture lands and, to a lesser extent, existing croplands (Adami et al., 2011). The trend reflects a broader regional shift where sugarcane increasingly displaces other land uses, potentially impacting food security and biodiversity (Figure 1). 、 Figure 1 Study area emphasizing the expanded sugarcane area from crop year 2005/06 to 2010/11 in the South-central region of Brazil (Photo credit: Adami et al., 2011) Image caption: The image depicts a geographical and statistical representation of sugarcane expansion in south-central Brazil, with specific focus on the states of Mato Grosso (MT), Goiás (GO), Mato Grosso do Sul (MS), Minas Gerais (MG), São Paulo (SP), and Paraná (PR). The map portion highlights areas of sugarcane expansion in green, showing that the expansion is concentrated mostly in the southeastern parts of these states. The pie chart illustrates the percentage distribution of sugarcane coverage among these states: São Paulo leads significantly with 52%, followed by Goiás (14%), Minas Gerais (13%), Mato Grosso do Sul (10%), Paraná (8%), and Mato Grosso (3%). This data suggests that São Paulo is the central hub for sugarcane agriculture in Brazil, likely due to favorable climatic and soil conditions as well as established agricultural infrastructure (Adapted from Adami et al., 2011)
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