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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Canal Point, Florida » Sugarcane Field Station » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #310057

Title: Climate Change Impact on Sugarcane Production in Developing Countries

Author
item Zhao, Duli
item LI, YANG-RUI - Guangxi Academy Of Agricultural Sciences

Submitted to: International Conference on Sugar and Integrated Industries
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/30/2014
Publication Date: 11/24/2014
Citation: Zhao, D., Li, Y.R. 2014. Climate change impact on sugarcane production in developing countries. In: Li, Y.R.,Rao, G.P., Solomon, S., Yang, L.T., Liu, Z., He, W.Z., Zeng, Y., Tang, Q.Z., Liu, S.Y., Zhou, H., Lu, R.H., editors. Green Technologies for Sustanable Growth of Sugar & Integrated Industries in Developing Countries. Nanning, P. R. China: International Conference on Sugar and Integrated Industries. p. 11-14

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A combination of long-term change in the weather patterns worldwide (Global climate change), caused by natural processes and anthropogenic factors, may result in major environmental issues that have affected and will continuously affect agriculture. Increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration [CO2] and air temperatures during the climate change are two major environmental factors. Although the increased atmospheric [CO2] and air temperature may benefit sugarcane growth and biomass accumulation in some regions of the world based on pot studies and crop modeling prediction, crop production is highly vulnerable to climate change due to increased frequency and intensity of the extreme weather events. Climate change is expected to have important consequences for sugarcane production in most developing countries because of relatively low adaptive capacity, high vulnerability to natural hazards, and poor forecasting systems and mitigating strategies. Sugarcane production has been directly and indirectly affected and will continue to be considerably affected by increases in the frequency and intensity of extreme environmental conditions, such as drought, heat, flooding, typhoon, and frost due to climate change. Existing adaption strategies for sugarcane production can help offset many, but not all negative effects over the next 20-30 years. The negative effects of climate change on sugarcane production are likely to worsen significantly in the future, especially if greenhouse gas emissions remain high. Agricultural scientists and policy makers need to work closely in order to mitigate the negative effects and to improve productivity by multidisciplinary approaches, such as development of stress tolerant and high-yielding varieties and best management practices. Improving the resilience of sugarcane agricultural systems to climate change requires protection of the natural resource for sustainability. Reducing production costs by introduction and development of creative technologies and expanding use of sugarcane products for sugar, ethanol, cellulosic biofuels and other co-products can further improve profits.