Sustainable Sugarcane Straw Special Issue: Considerations for Brazilian Bioenergy Production

This issue of Bioenergy Research summarizes the results of two large-scale projects aiming to provide quantitative data to support decision-making for straw management and establish rational plans for sustainable straw removal without compromising soil health, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and sugarcane yield in Brazil. These projects cover results from multi-disciplinary research quantifying the effects of sugarcane straw harvest, transport, and conversion into biofuel, bioelectricity, or bio-renewable. Seventeen publications from a cross-institutional group addressing soil health, nutrient cycling and fertilizer management, GHG emissions, pest management, crop yield, engineering solutions, and industrial performance are included in this special issue. Overall, the main findings confirm that sustainable straw removal is feasible in Brazil, but integrated knowledge should be used to ensure that straw removal for industrial uses will not compromise soil ecosystem services and crop yields. We believe that this special issue provides an amalgamation of high-level scientific information and can be used on a strategic basis by academics, sugarcane industry, and policy makers at both state and national government levels.