Sugarcane expansion in the Central-West Region of Brazil: limitations and potentialities

Abstract

This paper analyzes the expansion of sugarcane in the Central-West Region of Brazil, for characterization of its main limitations and potentialities. Results demonstrate that the expansion of sugarcane in this region has been happening mainly due to the search for better food safety (sugar production) and sustainable energy (ethanol production); saturation or decline of some traditional producing areas; natural conditions and agro-ecological zoning favorable to the development of sugarcane; and prospects for logistics improvements. The main limitations are the current context of instability in the ethanol market, the inefficient transport infrastructure (based on highway transportation), the incipient tradition of the sugarcane agroindustry in the Central-West Region of Brazil, and a possible aggravation in income concentration.