Renata Camargo's presentation for 'Driving change in the sugarcane sector: what can the rest of the world learn from Brazil' session at Bonsucro Global Week 2022.

1.  THE FLEX FUEL REVOLUTION (2003):
 With flex engines (powered by ethanol and gasoline), the productive sector had an expansion moment: new
production units and expansion of the cultivation area.
 Controlled burning - externalities
 Action by the São Paulo Public Ministry against the use of burning due to the health of workers who worked in
manual cutting, as well as the consequences for nearby populations (particulate material), began to generate a
series of legal actions against the productive sector.
 The State Government began to discuss the need to gradually eliminate the burning
 Change in the profile of the productive sector (family businesses => large groups) also contributed to the elimination
of burning in the central south region
Context - elimanation of the burning of the straw

2.  State Law No. 11,241/02 (State Decree No. 47,700/03), establishes the following deadlines for the definitive
elimination of straw burning:
Mechanized areas: 2021
Non-mechanicable areas: 2031
 2007 – Signing of the Agro-environmental Protocol for the Sugar and Alcohol Sector: voluntary agreement signed
with the Government of the State of São Paulo, providing for:
Anticipating deadlines for eliminating the use of fire;
Protection of riparian forests, recovery of springs and other conservation measures.
Regulation - elimanation of the burning of the straw

3.  Deadlines defined in the Protocol:
 Mills:
Mechanized areas: 2021 to 2014;
Non-mechanized areas: 2031 for 2017.
 Farmers:
Mechanized areas greater than 150 hectares: 2021 to 2014;
Mechanized areas of less than 150 hectares: 2021 to 2017;
Non-mechanized areas of less than 150 hectares: 2021 to 2017.
 Challenges for the sector - obtaining financing for the acquisition of equipment; lack of skilled labor;
phytosanitary measures.
Green Protocol - elimanation of the burning of the straw

4. 28% 35%
48%
82%
98%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2000/01
2001/02
2002/03
2003/04
2004/05
2005/06
2006/07
2007/08
2008/09
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
2014/15
2015/16
2016/17
Fonte: até safra 2007/2008 - CTC e Conab; a partir da safra 2008/2009 – CTC (Controle Mutuo) para áreas administradas pelas usinas
Evolution of mechanized harvesting
Changes in the production system:
• Adjustment to pest management
• Change in the planting system
• New techniques for soil
conservation
SP 2020/2021
99.6% of the cultivated
area harvested without
the use of fire

5. Reduction of water consumption (m3/ton of cane)

6. Green Protocol - elimanation of the burning of the straw
 GHG emissions avoided
are equivalent to the
emission of 210
thousand buses
circulating during a year
Signatories of the Agro-environmental Protocol are responsible for approximately 95% of São Paulo's
sugarcane production and 47% of national ethanol production.

7. GREENER ETHANOL – Overcoming the challenges of mechanization
 26/06/2017 - Greener Ethanol Protocol
 SMA, SAA, CETESB, ORPLANA and UNICA
 Essence – overcoming the challenges arising from mechanization
 Government Counterparts:
 Regulation of the causal link by CETESB;
 Additional period for the renewal of the environmental operating license by CETESB;
 Fostering research for the use of sugarcane by-products;
 Regional seminars.

8. Green Ethanol and Greener Ethanol
+52 million seedlings
of native vegetation
+ 400 thousand
requalified workers
+200 thousand
hectares of riparian
forest recovered
water consumption
5m³/ton 1990s
0.77 m³/ton in
2020/2021
+4,100 harvesters - 2020/2021
753 harvesters - 2007/2008
1. Burning Elimination
2. Adequacy to Law No. 12.651/2012
3. Protection and restoration of riparian areas
4. Soil Conservation - technical conservation plan
5. Conservation and reuse of water
6. Utilization of sugarcane by-products
7. Social and environmental responsibility and
certifications
8. Good practices in the use of pesticides
9. Fauna protection measures
10. Preventing and fighting forest fires