A sweet deal? Sugarcane, water and agricultural transformation in Sub-Saharan Africa
01/12/2016
There is a lot of discussion at the moment about the health effects of sugar consumption but have you thought about where your sugar comes from and what impact growing sugar has on the people and environment where it is produced? Sugarcane is an economically important crop for many Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries that benefit from high production potential, low costs of production and proximity, and access to European markets.
Significant expansion of this “high impact” crop is likely to have major impacts on agricultural land use and water resources, livelihoods, food security and ecosystem services, whilst potentially providing major infrastructure and economic benefits.
As part of a Belmont Forum funded project, we conducted a systematic review of scientific evidence and combined this with information from key informants, stakeholders and a research-industry workshop. We critically assessed the impacts of sugarcane development on water, soil and air quality, employment, food security and human health.
There are numerous examples where the water, social and environmental impacts of cane production are directly dependent on the quality of scheme, nature of the production system and farm management. Good agricultural management practices can reduce losses of herbicide, nutrients and atmospheric pollutants; carbon sequestration can be increased; and the impacts of burning can be significantly reduced when the crop is harvested “green”. In short, our analysis showed that sugarcane production is, in general, neither explicitly good nor bad, sustainable nor unsustainable.
This suggests a critical role for multi-disciplinary, multi-scale analysis and planning as a foundation for any further expansion of the sector – an approach that is intrinsic here at Cranfield. This type of integrated analysis will be particularly important in relation to both water and livelihoods within the growth or development corridors that are now planned in many SSA countries as a means to drive economic growth.
The impacts of expansion of sugarcane production on the environment and society will ultimately depend on the global political economy of sugar, the local context, quality of scheme, nature of the production system and farm management. Despite threats from a changing climate and trade relationships with the EU, agricultural development policies are driving national and international interest and investment in sugarcane in SSA, with expansion likely to play a critically important role in sustainable development in the region.
Our findings will help guide researchers and policy makers with new insights in understanding environmental and social impacts associated with alternative sugar economy models, production technologies and qualities of management. Sugarcane may not be everyone’s favourite crop, but it plays a crucial role in SSA, and if properly managed can bring benefits well beyond adding some sweetness to your morning brew.
Categories & Tags:
Leave a comment on this post:
You might also like…
My Apprenticeship Journey – Broadening Horizons
Laura, Senior Systems Engineer at a leading aircraft manufacturing company, joined Cranfield on the Systems Engineering Master’s Apprenticeship after initially considering taking a year off from her role to complete an MSc. Apprenticeship over MSc? ...
The Library app is back!
The Library app is back! It's exactly the same as before (although it will get a fresh look in a few months) and if you hadn't removed it from an existing device it should just ...
PhD researcher at the IF Oxford Science and Ideas Festival
IF Oxford is a science and ideas Festival packed with inspiring, entertaining and immersive events for people all ages. PhD researcher, Zahra attended the festival. Here she shares what motivated her to get involved. ...
What leadership skills are required to meet the demands of digitalisation?
Digital ecosystems are shifting the dynamics of the world as we know it. With digitalisation being a norm in the software industry, there is currently a rapid rise in its translation ...
My PhD experience within the Centre for Air Transport at Cranfield University
Mengyuan began her PhD in the Centre for Air Transport in October 2022. She recently shared what she is working on and how she has found studying at Cranfield University so ...
In the tyre tracks of the Edwardian geologists
In April 1905 a group of amateur geologists loaded their cumbersome bicycles on to a north-bound train at a London rail station and set off for Bedfordshire on a field excursion. In March 2024 a ...
Just great! Agricultural engineers are needed in this work. http://www.agriengrs.com/others/what-is-agricultural-engineering/