Mitigating the impact of environmental, social and economic issues on sugarcane cultivation to achieve sustainability

Publication date: 11/12/2017
Extent: 18 pages

Contributions by: Kathy Hurly and Richard Nicholson, SA Canegrowers, South Africa; Carolyn Baker and Michelle Binedell, South African Sugarcane Research Institute, South Africa; Vaughan Koopman, WWF-SA, South Africa; Graeme Leslie, Consultant Entomologist, South Africa; Geoff Maher, Zambia Sugar, Zambia; and Scott Pryor, North Dakota State University, USA

Chapter synopsis: Mitigating the impact of sugarcane cultivation on the environment and ensuring both economic and social sustainability is key to successful and enduring sugar industries. This chapter focuses on the impact of agrochemical use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and how these may be mitigated. Persistent effects of agrochemical practices are described and strategies aimed at mitigating their impact are identified. Sources of GHG emissions are identified and some of the challenges associated with implementation of the practices required to mitigate their effects are provided. The chapter outlines arguments associated with the economic value of the practices that underpin adherence to improved environmental management, and includes a case study from South Africa to demonstrate an expansive learning approach to enhance adoption of a sound environmental management system, SUSFARMS®.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2017.0035.31