Sugar Export Research Articles

Relieving the transfusion tissue traffic jam: a network model of radial transport in conifer needles.

Characteristic of all conifer needles, the transfusion tissue mediates the radial transport of water and sugar between the endodermis and axial vasculature. Physical constraints imposed by the needle's linear geometry introduce two potential extravascular bottlenecks where the opposition of sugar and water flows may frustrate sugar export: one at the vascular access point and the other at the endodermis. We developed a network model of the transfusion tissue to explore how its structure and composition affect the delivery of sugars to the axial phloem. To describe extravascular transport with cellular resolution, we construct networks from images of Pinus pinea needles obtained through tomographic microscopy, as well as fluorescence and electron microscopy. The transfusion tissue provides physically distinct pathways for sugar and water, reducing resistance between the vasculature and endodermis and mitigating flow constriction at the vascular flank. Dissipation of flow velocities through the transfusion tissue's branched structure allows for bidirectional transport of an inbound diffusive sugar flux against an outbound advective water flux across the endodermis. Our results clarify the structure-function relationships of the transfusion tissue under conditions free of physiological stress. The presented model framework is also applicable to different transfusion tissue morphologies in other gymnosperms.

Metabolic and transcriptomic analyses of nectaries reveal differences in the mechanism of nectar production between monocots (Ananas comosus) and dicots (Nicotiana tabacum)

BackgroundNectar is offered by numerous flowering plants to attract pollinators. To date, the production and secretion of nectar have been analyzed mainly in eudicots, particularly rosids such as Arabidopsis. However, due to the enormous diversity of flowering plants, further research on other plant species, especially monocots, is needed. Ananas comosus (monocot) is an economically important species that is ideal for such analyses because it produces easily accessible nectar in sufficient quantities. In addition, the analyses were also carried out with Nicotiana tabacum (dicot, asterids) for comparison.ResultsWe performed transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) analyses of the nectaries of Ananas comosus and Nicotiana tabacum, to test whether the mechanisms described for nectar production and secretion in Arabidopsis are also present in these plant species. The focus of these analyses is on carbohydrate metabolism and transport (e.g., sucrose-phosphate synthases, invertases, sucrose synthases, SWEETs and further sugar transporters). In addition, the metabolites were analyzed in the nectar, nectaries and leaves of both plant species to address the question of whether concentration gradients for different metabolites exist between the nectaries and nectar The nectar of N. tabacum contains large amounts of glucose, fructose and sucrose, and the sucrose concentration in the nectar appears to be similar to the sucrose concentration in the nectaries. Nectar production and secretion in this species closely resemble corresponding processes in some other dicots, including sucrose synthesis in nectaries and sucrose secretion by SWEET9. The nectar of A. comosus also contains large amounts of glucose, fructose and sucrose and in this species the sucrose concentration in the nectar appears to be higher than the sucrose concentration in the nectaries. Furthermore, orthologs of SWEET9 generally appear to be absent in A. comosus and other monocots. Therefore, sucrose export by SWEETs from nectaries into nectar can be excluded; rather, other mechanisms, such as active sugar export or exocytosis, are more likely.ConclusionThe mechanisms of nectar production and secretion in N. tabacum appear to be largely similar to those in other dicots, whereas in the monocotyledonous species A. comosus, different synthesis and transport processes are involved.

Analisis Peluang dan Ancaman Perdagangan Bahan Pangan serta Kebijakan untuk Mengatasinya: Studi Kasus Indonesia dan Thailand

This research examines the potential for Indonesian agricultural exports to Thailand in the context of ASEAN trade. The analysis focuses on the comparative advantages of the two countries in key agricultural commodities such as rice, corn, sugar, palm oil and coffee. Production and export data for 2022 shows that Indonesia is ahead in palm oil and coffee production, while Thailand is dominant in rice and sugar exports. The 2021-2023 trade balance of both countries shows a deficit, with Thailand experiencing a much larger deficit. Despite facing challenges such as price fluctuations, climate and trade regulations, Indonesia has the opportunity to increase its agricultural exports to Thailand by improving production efficiency and product quality.

Optimizing sustainable multimodal distribution networks in the context of carbon pricing, with a case study in the Thai sugar industry

Transportation is a major cause of energy consumption and emissions which can be reduced by optimizing routings and using alternative modes of transport. This paper relates to the strategic design of multimodal transportation networks. It presents a general model of green vehicle routing problems that supports strategic decision-making by identifying optimal solutions and provides data on costs and emissions. Three general linear programming models were developed that optimize multimodal distribution networks that could be applied in many industries. Model I evaluates carbon emissions; model II assesses carbon emissions and capacity constraints; and model III establishes total costs including transportation, handling, storage, fuel and carbon costs.Thailand is the third largest world sugar exporter in the world and is piloting carbon pricing, which will affect energy intensive industries, including the sugar industry. The models are applied using data obtained from a collaborating company. The research contributed to practice by informing managerial decisions relating to the export of sugar from the factory. This included evaluating the possible use of a dry port with rail connections, which could reduce transportation and carbon costs by 54.3 % and facilitate the building of another factory to increase exports.

The Plantation Carbon Complex: Slavery and the Origins of Climate Change in the Early Modern British Atlantic

Abstract: In recent years, scholars working across the humanities and social sciences have suggested that agricultural land use emissions from early modern enslaved labor plantations may have played an important role in the origins of anthropogenic, or human-induced, climate change. Yet historians of slavery and the early modern Atlantic world have been slow to engage with this argument. Focusing on the major enslaved-grown export commodities of the colonial British Atlantic world, this paper employs a carbon accounting method to test whether enslaved labor plantations and enslaved-grown exports substantially increased agricultural land use emissions in the early modern British Atlantic and how they compared to British fossil fuel emissions—namely, coal burning—in the colonial period. For each of the major types of plantations modeled—tobacco, rice, and sugar—enslaved labor, regardless of crop, decisively increased the amount of carbon any single household could emit. But the wide divergence in emissions between different plantation types and export crops suggests that enslaved labor was only one essential, though not singular, factor shaping the carbon footprint of enslaved-based plantations and enslaved-grown commodities. It was instead the interaction of the multiple factors comprising what we call the plantation carbon complex —racial and gender ideologies, crop ecologies, capital requirements, African agricultural knowledge, and enslaved resistance, among other factors—that determined an individual plantation or commodity's emissions. Nonetheless, the results reveal that the combined emissions of enslaved-grown tobacco, rice, and sugar exports far surpassed not only the emissions of the major non-enslaved-grown agricultural exports of the British Atlantic colonies but also British coal emissions throughout the eighteenth century. The form of enslaved-based racial capitalism represented by colonial British plantations thus marked an important transition in the shift toward a more carbon-intensive global economy.

An Analysis of Indian Sugar Exports: Markov Chain Approach

India, the world's leading producer and exporter of sugar, plays a crucial role in the food industry due to sugar's sweet flavour and its multifaceted applications as a sweetener, preservative, texture enhancer, colouring agent, flavouring agent, and bulking agent. In the year 2020- 21 India exported an impressive 70 lakh tonnes of sugar, following 59 lakh tonnes in 2019- 20. India's sugar exports reach as many as 121 countries, with Sudan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Somalia, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, and Iran being some of the most consistent importers. The present study discusses the above approach envisaging the above analysis of Indian sugar exports to different countries from 2001-02 to 2020-21 employed Markov chain analysis, the results unveiled that Sudan retained the lion's share at 89.4% of India's sugar exports, followed by Myanmar at 57.3%, Somalia at 55.8%, Iran at 48%, the United Arab Emirates at 36.6%, Sri Lanka at 28.2%, Bangladesh at 10.7%, Pakistan at 5.4%, with the remaining 56.2% distributed among various other nations. Notably, India maintained loyal sugar exporters in Sudan, Myanmar, Somalia, Iran, the UAE, and Sri Lanka.

The comparative financial feasibility analysis and the environmental impacts of sugarcane-based bioethanol production in South Africa

The objective of this paper was to determine the financial feasibility and environmental implications of bioethanol production from sugarcane in South Africa. The financial feasibility objectives was achieved using two capital budgeting techniques, namely, the Net Present Value (NPV) and Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) under four scenarios considerations: all sugarcane is used for biofuel production (I), all sugarcane destined for the sugar export market is used to produce bioethanol, II), All sugarcane is crushed into cane juice which is then transported into the refinery (III) and IV) Export designated sugarcane is transported by farmers to the refinery in the form of a cane juice. The environmental implications were determined using the Input-output and multiplier analysis. The NPV and BCR) results indicated that it is not feasible to produce bioethanol from sugarcane without a government subsidy. The production of sugarcane-based bioethanol however had environmental benefits as it was estimated to results to an average Green House Gases (GHGs) emission reduction of 28% related to petrol, of which 84% of the GHGs emission savings was from Carbon Dioxide (CO2). For bioethanol production to be financially feasible the financial support from private investors and government is recommended in subsidising the cost of feedstock.

Assessing the Competitiveness and Trends of Indian Sugar in Global Market: A 1999- 2018 Analysis

Sugar is one of the most produced and traded commodities in the world. India is the second-largest producer and largest consumer of sugar in the world. Therefore, the study was conducted to assess the position of Indian sugar in the international market. The study was based on Time series data of years 1999-2018. To assess the trend, trend analysis was done and, for appraising the competitiveness, export performance ratio and nominal protection coefficient was computed. The cubic model was found best fit for all the particulars considered in the models. Results revealed that production, import quantity and value of sugar had increasing trend while export quantity, value, unit price of export and import of sugar exhibited fluctuating trend. The trade of Indian sugar was found inconsistent in the decadal analysis but overall had a relative advantage in the international market with an EPR vale of 1.11. The higher NPC value of 1.02 pointed out a matter of concern as the Indian sugar was non-competitive in the international market.

Intra-Regional and Global Competitive Dynamics of African Sugar Industries

Recent dynamics in the sugar industry, including price fluctuations in the global market, reforms in the European sugar sector, and changes in intra-regional trade patterns, underscore the need to understand changes in the competitiveness of African sugar exports. This paper, therefore, uses the Normalized Revealed Comparative Advantage (NRCA) index and the Harris-Tzavalis panel-data unit-root test to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the dynamics in both inter and intra-regional competitiveness of sugar exports across 34 African countries using panel data that spans from 2001-2021. The NRCA indices reveal notable shifts and patterns in the competitive landscape of African sugar exporters. As of 2021, half of the countries under scrutiny demonstrated a competitive edge in sugar exports, representing a slight uptick from the fourteen (14) observed in 2021. Nonetheless, only eight (8) African countries, predominantly from southern Africa, have sustained their competitiveness both globally and intra-regionally over the entire analysis period. The majority of African sugar exports have struggled to maintain competitiveness on the global market, with some alternating between periods of comparative advantage and comparative disadvantage. However, three North African countries, particularly Algeria, Egypt and Morrocco gained comparative advantage during this timeframe. The sustained competitiveness of Southern African countries and the gain in competitiveness of some North African countries highlights the importance and growing influence of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in shaping the developmental trajectory of African sugar industries.

AGRICULTURE IN BRAZIL

Brazil is the largest nation in terms of arable land. It has abundant land and water resources. It is among the few nations with potential to increase agricultural productivity. Access to export markets is crucial for Brazilian agriculture. Brazil is the third biggest exporter of agro-food products after the European Union and the United States. It is now regarded as a top-5 producer of 34 commodities and is the largest net exporter in the world. It is a leading comprehensive exporter of soybean, sugar, coffee, oranges, poultry, beef, cotton, corn, orange juice, and ethanol. The nation is essentially self-sufficient in basic foodstuffs. This paper introduces the reader to the practice of agriculture in Brazil.

Growth and Instability Analysis of Sugar Exports from India

Aims: To work out growth trends and instability in export of sugar and jaggery from India
 Place and Duration of Study: Department of Agricultural Economics, Junagadh Agricultural University (between June 2018 and July 2020).
 Methodology: The present study focused on analyzing the growth and instability in sugar and jaggery export quantity, value and unit value as well for the period from 1996-97 to 2005-06. Exponential growth model and Cuddy-Della index used for growth and instability analysis, respectively.
 Results: study results indicate a notable annual growth rate in sugar export from India, specifically at 17.42, 23.44 and 5.13 per cent for quantity, value and unit value, respectively during the time span from1996-97 to 2018-19. Similarly, jaggery export also followed a comparable trend However, the export of both sugar and jaggery exhibited high volatility, attributed to low production levels during years of scarcity.
 Conclusion: The potential for expanding sugar and jaggery exports is considerable, contingent upon enhancing quality to meet the specific requirements of importing nations. Jaggery, renowned for its nutritional value, warrants increased domestic consumption, thereby contributing to the augmentation of sugarcane farm income.

Trade and competitiveness of African sugar exports

IntroductionSugar ranks among the most widely consumed, traded, sensitive, and protected commodities on the global and intra-regional stages. Recent developments in the sugar industry, inclusive of price distortions in the global sugar market, the liberalization of the European sugar sector, and the globalization of international agricultural trade, have amplified the need to comprehend the evolution of competitiveness in African sugar exports. Consequently, this study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the patterns, trends, and shifts in the inter- and intra-regional competitiveness of African sugar exports.MethodsThis paper employed the Normalized Revealed Comparative Advantage (NRCA) index and the Harris-Tzavalis panel-data unit-root test to assess the stability and structural changes in the competitive patterns of sugar exports for 34 African countries. The analysis is based on panel data spanning the period from 2001 to 2021.Results and discussionThe NRCA indices unveil certain dynamics and shifts in the competitiveness of country-specific sugar exports. Overall, the number of countries exhibiting competitive sugar exports has marginally increased, rising from 14 in 2001 to 17 in 2021. However, only eight African countries, predominantly from the southern region, have consistently maintained competitiveness in both the global and intra-regional markets throughout the entire analysis period. A significant portion of sugar exports from African countries has remained non-competitive on the global market, with a select few oscillating between periods of comparative advantage and disadvantage. Notably, the North African nations of Morocco, Algeria, and Egypt have transitioned from a position of comparative disadvantage to one of comparative advantage. At the intra-regional level, the presence of tariff and non-tariff trade barriers, including tariff escalations and trade embargoes, has rendered sugar exports non-competitive. These barriers augment the challenges faced by producers in other African nations seeking to exploit economies of scale.ConclusionThe sustained competitiveness of sugar exports from the Southern African region to other African regions underscores the significance and increasing impact of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in bolstering the competitiveness and development of the sugar industry.

The Ongoing Crisis in the Sugar Industry: The Implications of Legislation and a Need for Deregulation

The proposed research project is based on a multidisciplinary approach in order to analyse the law governing the sugar industry and the implications thereof. The proposed research project focuses on the current market operation within Pakistan, critically contrasting it with the model implemented within different jurisdictions for effective market operation of the sugar industry. It highlights the inefficaciousness and longstanding practices of the market players, how these are supported by existing legal structures, and how these undermine competition. While the sugar industry is highly significant towards the economy of Pakistan and regardless of the so-called stringent legislative control, which have without a doubt failed, this study shall focus on unveiling the adverse implications of these rules and regulations and analyse a more viable model for an effective market operation.
 INTRODUCTION
 The sugar industry plays a crucial role in Pakistan’s economy, but government regulations have made it highly regulated, inefficient, and anti-competitive. This article explores the historical development of the sugar industry in Pakistan, focusing on the legislative framework that has shaped it up to 2021. It considers relevant laws, case law, and findings from the Sugar Inquiry Report (Sugar Inquiry Commission, 2020). To gain a comprehensive understanding, the study includes key informant interviews with stakeholders along the sugar supply chain and experts. These interviews assess the proposed reforms’ prudency, efficiency, and adequacy, aiming to determine their effectiveness and viability. Ultimately, the article will propose reforms tailored to Pakistan based on this research.
 PRE-PARTITION
 From the late 1800s to the early 1930s, the sugar industry in the Dutch East Indies, particularly on the island of Java, went through significant developments. Initially, sugar was a crucial export commodity for the colony, primarily directed towards European markets. However, in the 1880s, the Java-based sugar factories lost contact with these markets. Around the turn of the 20th century, the United States became a major recipient of Java’s sugar exports due to disruptions in Caribbean sugar supplies caused by the Cuban revolution and the Spanish-American war. However, by the early 1910s, Java shifted its focus to Asian markets, particularly the Indian Subcontinent, China, and Japan (Knight, 2010). 
 The development and maintenance of the sugar industry became crucial for the Indian subcontinent, and historical records indicate that India had a well-established sugar industry dating back centuries. Around the same time, with the decline of indigo cultivation in North Bihar and increased emphasis on cane production, modern sugar factories began to emerge.

Перспективы развития экспорта сахара и сахарной продукции

Abstract. The purpose is to study the current state and features of the development of the world sugar market, develop proposals for supporting exports in the commodity group “Sugar and sugar confectionery” at the regional level in the new conditions of foreign economic activity. Methods. In the course of the study, statistical, analytical, graphical methods, Porter's 5 competitive forces analysis method, as well as regression analysis and expert survey methods were used. Results. This study clarifies the parameters of the global market for sugar products; the competitive positions of Russia in the studied market were analyzed taking into account the situation in 2022, the rating of regions in the export of sugar products was considered, in particular, the state of exports in the Stavropol Territory was studied. Based on the theory of M. Porter, strategies for entering foreign markets in the context of the Sugar and Sugar Confectionery segments were determined and measures for their implementation were proposed. A forecast was developed for further development in certain segments of foreign trade in sugar products in the world, in Russia and the Stavropol Territory, scenarios for the development of exports of sugar products in the Stavropol Territory were substantiated. The novelty of the results lies in clarifying the positions and prospects of Russian exports in the new conditions, taking into account the generalization of the opinions of experts at the regional and federal levels; substantiating of directions for choosing a competitive strategy for Russia when selling goods in the context of two segments (“Sugar” and “Confectionery from sugar”) on the world market; substantiation of the forecast values of exports of sugar and sugar confectionery in the world, Russia and the Stavropol Territory until 2025 using trend analysis; development of development scenarios as part of a strategy to increase the export of sugar and sugar confectionery in the Stavropol Territory.

Finding the sweet spot in Industry 4.0 transformation: an exploration of the drivers, challenges and readiness of the Thai sugar industry

PurposeIndustry 4.0 is recognised as a competitive strategy that helps implementers optimise their value chain. However, its adoption poses several challenges. This study investigates and ranks the drivers and barriers to implementing Industry 4.0 in the Thai sugar industry, the world's second-largest sugar exporter. It also evaluates the industry's readiness for Industry 4.0.Design/methodology/approachThe drivers and impediments were identified based on a systematic literature review (SLR) and further investigated using a questionnaire, expert interviews, Pearson's correlation and nonparametric statistical analyses. The IMPULS model was used to assess the industry's readiness.FindingsMost companies expect to minimise costs, develop employees and improve various elements of operational performance and data tracking capability. Thai sugar producers are still at a low readiness level to deploy Industry 4.0. High investment is the major challenge. Small businesses struggle to hire competent employees, collaborate with a highly credible technology provider and adapt to new solutions.Practical implicationsThe findings can serve as a benchmark or guide for sugar manufacturers and companies in other sectors, where Industry 4.0 technologies are not yet widely utilised, to overcome existing roadblocks and make strategic decisions. They can also assist governments in developing policies that foster digital transformation and increase national competitiveness.Originality/valueThere is a scarcity of research on Industry 4.0 execution in the sugar industry. This study addresses this gap by investigating the reasons for the hesitancy of sugar producers to pursue Industry 4.0 and proposing solutions.

The Competitiveness of Indonesian Sugar Export in The South East Asia Region

Sugar industry has an important role in the Indonesian economy because of its ability to absorp a lot of manpower. AFTA (ASEAN Free Trade Area) provides transaction convenience both export and import between the member of ASEAN. This study aims to analyze the competitiveness of Indonesian sugar export inside ASEAN area and to estimate the trend of Indonesian sugar export. The competitiveness analysis uses RCA (Revealed Comparative Advantage) method while trend estimation uses Trend analysis. The RCA analysis result shows that Indonesia has low competitiveness but shows progress in last 3 years. While RCA analysis of Thailand and Myanmar shows declining trend. The declining trend of Thailand’s RCA is caused by the development of sugar cane based ethanol industry. While the declining trend of Myanmar’s RCA is caused by the decrease of sugarcane area and only temporary. The trend analysis result shows that Indonesian sugar export is increasing. The main export destination country for Indonesian sugar product is Vietnam. Vietnam also shows increasing trend in sugar import. So it will become an opportunity for Indonesia to increase its export value.

Improved photosynthetic performance under unilateral weak light conditions in a wide-narrow-row intercropping system is associated with altered sugar transport.

Intercropping improves resource utilization. Under wide-narrow-row maize (Zea mays) intercropping, maize plants are subjected to weak unilateral illumination and exhibit high photosynthetic performance. However, the mechanism regulating photosynthesis under unilateral weak light remains unknown. We investigated the relationship between photosynthesis and sugar metabolism in maize under unilateral weak light. Our results showed that the net photosynthetic rate (Pn) of unshaded leaves increased as the level of shade on the other side increased. On the contrary, the concentration of sucrose and starch and the number of starch granules in the unshaded leaves decreased with increased shading due to the transfer of abundant C into the grains. However, sink loss with ear removal reduced the Pn of unshaded leaves. Intense unilateral shade (40% to 20% normal light), but not mild unilateral shade (60% normal light), reduced grain yield (37.6% to 54.4%, respectively). We further found that in unshaded leaves, Agpsl, Bmy, and Mexl-like expression significantly influenced sucrose and starch metabolism, while Sweet13a and Sut1 expression was crucial for sugar export. In shaded leaves, expression of Sps1, Agpsl, and Sweet13c was crucial for sugar metabolism and export. This study confirmed that unshaded leaves transported photosynthates to the ear, leading to a decrease in sugar concentration. The improvement of photosynthetic performance was associated with altered sugar transport. We propose a narrow-row spacing of 40 cm, which provides appropriate unilateral shade and limits yield reduction.

Evolution of sugar exports in two centuries

The research showed the trajectory of Brazilian exports and sugar prices between 1821 and 2020 (two centuries). The hypothesis of the research was that exporters' price forecasting errors affected their export forecasting errors in the period evaluated. The data were obtained from the Ministry of Development, Industry and Trade (MIDIC). Sugar prices were translated to 2020 Brazilian currency values (R$) and then to US dollars using the 2020 (R$/USD) average conversion rate. Autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models were used to forecast sugar exports and prices over the entire period. Geometric growth rates of exports and prices were estimated for each quartile using trend evaluation models. Dummy variables were used to test whether there were differences between the elasticities measuring the forecast errors of exports as a function of the forecast errors of sugar prices in each quartile. The estimated models proved to be parsimonious and robust from a statistical point of view. The hypotheses that prices and export quantities expanded at different rates in the four quartiles were confirmed and the estimated elasticities were shown to be statistically different suggesting that export forecasting errors are likely to be related to sugar price forecasts.

The non-use of evidence in the adoption of a sugar-sweetened beverage tax in OECD countries.

Studies confirm the positive effect of sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) taxation on public health. However, only a few countries in Europe adopt SSB taxes. From a public policy perspective, we investigate the conditions under which countries do or do not follow this evidence. Crisp-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) of 26 European Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development countries with and without an SSB tax. We test which configurations of conditions (problem pressure, governmental composition, strategic planning, health care system, public health policies, inclusion of expert advice in policymaking) emerge as relevant in determining adoption and non-adoption between the years 1981 and 2021. Pathways that lead to the presence and absence of SSB taxes are identified separately. At least one of the following configurations of conditions is present in countries that introduced taxation: (i) high financial problem pressure, low regulatory impact assessment activity; (ii) high public health problem pressure, a contribution-financed health care system, no holistic strategy for combatting non-communicable diseases (NCDs); (iii) a tax-financed health care system, a holistic NCD strategy, high strategic and executive planning capacity. In countries that did not adopt SSB taxes, we find (i) high regulatory impact assessment activity, high levels of sugar export; (ii) no holistic NCD strategy, high spending on preventive care; (iii and iv) a lack of strategic planning capacity and either a high share of spending on preventive care or inclusion of expert advice. Evidence inclusion requires clear policy priorities in terms of strategy and resources to promote public health.

The emergence of Brazil as a major world sugar and ethanol producer

ABSTRACT The production and export of sugar defined the colonial history of Brazil. It was here that the first modern slave based plantation system was created in America. Up through the end of the 17th century it was the dominant Atlantic producer of sugar. Although production continued to grow it was replaced in world markets in the 18th century by West Indian growers and was late to modernize in the 19th and early 20th century. Yet today it is once again the world's dominant producer of sugar and the second largest producer of ethanol. How and why these changes occurred is the theme of this essay in which we explore the rise of the modern sugar and ethanol industries in Brazil.