A emergy analysis of trends in sugar cane sector / Uma analise emergetica de tendencias do setor sucroalcooleiro

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2000

RESUMO

With the first crisis of the oil, in 1973, it had necessity to search alternative energy sources that could substitute the oil derivatives. Thus, the Alcohol National Program ? ProÁlcool ? was instituted with the emission of the Decree n° 76,593, of November 14, 1975, being based, initially, in the anhydrous alcohol production to be mixed to gasoline. With the new crisis of the oil, in 1979, beyond the mixture to the gasoline, it was initiated the manufacture of automobiles moved by alcohol. This intensified the sugar cane agricultural industry, responsible for environmental impacts such as the destruction of areas with native forest, loss of the agricultural production diversity and launching of vinasse in the rivers. Still today, these impacts generate environmental and social problems such as: ground erosion and pollution, pollution of the hydro resources with pesticides, pollutants emission in the atmosphere with the cane-plantation burning, biodiversity destruction and increase of the agricultural exodus. As positive counterpart, the adoption of the combustible alcohol improved the quality of air in the Brazilian cities, substituting toxic substances in automachine vehicles fuels. Thus, the cost/benefit relation deserves an improved study, because this industry is affected by the new technological possibilities. This work analyzes alternative possibilities of the sugar cane production and sugar and alcohol manufacture, grouped as trends that can improve the production and diminish the environmental impacts of the sugar cane industry activity. Among them those related to the legal disposals, to the technological innovations and to the market forces are distinguished. The analysis of the sugar cane, sugar and alcohol production was based on data collected in industries in the state of São Paulo and, from these data, it was verified how the application of these trends would affect the agricultural industry. The chosen tool to carry through this analysis was the emergy methodology, that allows the evaluation of the environmental impacts of the system production, verifying the index related to the utilization of renewable and non-renewable resources, the local environmental services, the economic services and the economic yield of the system. Being based on the methodology, the advantages and disadvantages of each trend had been identified in accordance with the exploitation of the renewable and non-renewable natural resources, materials and services. In the analyzed trends, the one that got better index was the organic agriculture. As foreseen, this technique takes advantage of the natural resources better, attacking little the ground and the environment. Another verified advantage was the intensive necessity of agricultural manpower. This technique offers environmental benefits, for being less polluting, and social benefits, because it keeps the job of the agricultural workers. On the other hand, the one that showed less sustainability was the harvest mechanization, due to necessity of bigger investments in equipment, technology and fuels. It is important to stand out that each trend was studied separately, being important to carry through simulation with two or more trends. With the incorporation of more trends in the same activity the environmental and social impacts tend to diminish, improving the productivity of the sugar cane industry

ASSUNTO(S)

cana-de-açucar alcohol industry sugar cane industry alcool - industria agroindustria canavieira sugar cane

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