Genetically modified sugarcane contributes to productivity and sustainability in sugarcane fields

The borer-resistant GMO varieties, developed by the Sugarcane Technology Center (CTC), offer productivity gains and bring sustainability to sugarcane production.

The user of Bt technology obtains gains of up to R$2.000 per hectare, varying depending on the intensity of the infestation and the quality of the producer's agronomic management.

Since 2017, the CTC has developed and obtained commercial approval for six Bt varieties, adapted to the climate and soil conditions of the various sugarcane regions. 

Because they are resistant to the pest, these varieties avoid large productivity losses caused by the insect, reduce production costs and bring gains in sustainability. Every year, the drill causes losses estimated at R$5 billion to Brazilian sugarcane fields.

Entomological studies indicate that, for every 1% of pest infestation, around 1,5% of productivity is lost, measured in tons of sugar per hectare. 

Because they have been genetically modified to resist the borer, Bt canes have control efficacy close to 100%, practically eliminating the presence of the pest. 

Bt canes replace, with significant economic and environmental advantages, the controls currently in use in the sector, which employ chemical or biological insecticides, which control, at most, 70% of the pest infestation, for just a few months during the crop cycle until harvest. .

“Our team’s focus is to increase sugarcane productivity through conventional genetic improvement, and protect this gain through biotechnology, aiming for greater sustainability and cost reduction”, says biologist Adriana Capella, who heads the team of researchers and CTC scientists. Adriana is a specialist in genetics and leads research into new genetically modified varieties developed by the Center and genomic editing, one of the most modern techniques for improving various organisms, including plants.

Economy

Free from drills, a sugarcane field offers higher quality raw materials for the plant, providing savings in the use of inputs in the sugar and ethanol production processes.

Sugarcane fields affected by the pest will also present losses in the production process, such as losses in the fermentation process and changes in the final color of the sugar. With Bt varieties these problems are practically eliminated. 

Sustainability

The use of Bt technology provides a substantial reduction in the use of chemical products to combat the borer. 

Considering the main products used by the market, this represents a reduction of 100 to 300 g/ha of insecticides depending on the commercial product used.   

If they were used throughout the country's sugarcane area, Bt sugarcane could generate environmental gains by eliminating the consumption of around 2 million liters of pesticides, saving at least 144 million liters of water (used in applications airlines) and reduction in CO2 emissions with the elimination of chemical application operations that consume fossil fuels.

National coverage

The borer is present in the 10 million hectares of sugarcane cultivated in the country, substantially compromising its productivity. 

CTC's portfolio of genetically modified varieties resistant to the borer, serves sugarcane production environments in Brazil, from fertile soils and regions with higher rainfall to restrictive environments, in addition to crops that will be harvested at different times of the year.  

Of the six Bt varieties approved since 2017, two are already planted in around 150 plants in the country (CTC20BT and CTC9001BT). The CTC9003BT and CTC7515BT varieties are starting to be planted in the plants this year.

The two most recent varieties approved by CTNBio are CTC579BT and CTC9005BT.