The use of newer varieties of sugarcane can increase crop yields and allow gains of 2 tons of sugar per hectare. This is what research conducted by the Cane Technology Center (CTC) shows, based on its benchmarking platform, which includes more than 175 participating mills and represents 80% of crushing operations in the Central and South region.
“The new varieties represent significant gains in productivity, resulting in an increased production of tons of sugar per hectare. This is due to the continuous improvement in genetic development, which increases agricultural production,” says Luciana Castellani, Director of Genetic Improvement at CTC.
According to CTC technicians, one of the factors driving genetic gain is reducing the replication cycle for new parents, which represents a major advance in the context of genetic improvement.
“This reduction allows us to obtain greater levels of genetic gain, in an accelerated manner, quickly meeting market demands and environmental challenges, as well as ensuring the continued introduction of better-performing parents adapted to different soil and climate conditions,” the organization says. Director of Genetic Improvement for CTC.
According to her, newer varieties are better adapted to meet specific challenges, such as climate change, pests and diseases. “They have been exposed to more modern selection processes” that are in line with current market demand. This means that by adopting these varieties, producers have a greater chance of succeeding in the face of challenges.
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Therefore, adopting new varieties is a strategic step for producers seeking to maximize the efficiency and profitability of their agricultural operations, in addition to preparing themselves to face future challenges in this sector.
But, in addition, it is necessary to allocate the varieties correctly, respecting the management of the harvest season and the productive potential of the place where they will be grown, which is technically called the climatic production environment.
“This will ensure that sugarcane productivity is maximized,” says Riccardo Niemi, Marketing Director at CTC.
Based on data from CTC varietal measurement, the simple fact of managing the varieties correctly, following the literature suggested by genetic improvement programs, will provide an increase of 14% or 1.2 tons of additional sugar per hectare.
Biotechnology is also a great ally for variety management. “Bt varieties, resistant to the sugarcane borer, protect productivity mainly in areas that are difficult to manage and most susceptible to the pest,” Niemi explains.
CTC research also shows that varieties developed after the 2000s have 20.6% higher performance than varieties developed in the 1980s in terms of tons of sugar per hectare (TAH/ha). The analysis is based on crops from 2021/22 to 2023/24.
Elite varieties (latest CTC versions) perform 36.6% better than those developed in the 1980s in terms of total recoverable sugar per hectare (ATR/ha). The analysis is based on the 2023/24 harvest.
These numbers and gains go beyond the specific comparison between crops, when considering the adoption and collaboration of that product in the producer/manufacturer’s cash flow.
Embodying the condition of the variety and its first 5-year cycle in the growing area of the product/plant, selecting a more recent variety generates an additional gross profit of R$ 3 million or 37% more compared to selecting from a variety from the 1980s. This is the benefit of more productive selection.
When the introduction of this variety is accelerated, from 5 hectares to 10 hectares, the total additional profit in the cycle amounts to R$ 6 million or 44% more. This is the financial benefit of accelerating and anticipating greater profitability of this variety in the first five years of its cycle. Counter-Terrorism Committee
