“A future beyond sugar”: Examining second-generation biofuel pathways in Alagoas, northeast Brazil

Abstract

In this article, we examine an early example of lignocellulosic, or second-generation (2G), ethanol production amid wider efforts to address concerns over harmful socio-environmental effects of the bioethanol sector. Focusing on a bioethanol-from-cellulose refinery in Alagoas, northeast Brazil, and recent efforts in the region to enroll alternative sources such as eucalyptus as feedstock, our findings underscore the continued importance of primary crops as inputs for new enzyme development for 2G production, with potential to intensify monoculture agriculture pathways in Alagoas and other sites of expansion. Accordingly, we highlight the value of transdisciplinary approaches to shape the early stages of scientific research into novel enzyme applications, including the selection of potential new crops for feedstocks, their local socio-environmental consequences, and their wider linkages in a global agrarian economy. We argue that determining which, if any, varieties of biomass are best suited for enzyme development entails seeking the input of multiple stakeholders and sources of knowledge to avoid reproducing socioeconomic inequalities and injustices or endangering local environments.