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protection (including climate change and air pollution). The balance between these
two pressures must be well balanced.
Income Disparity Within Brazil Sugarcane harvesting has traditionally been undertaken by the seasonal migrant workers from the north where the economic development is much slower than in it is other region. The majority of sugarcane plantation
developments in Brazil is expected in the southern part of Brazil and this trend may
even widen the income disparity between these regions. Meanwhile, the Brazilian
government is promoting feedstock production for biodiesel in the northern Brazil,
which have implications on adjusting the income disparity.
9.2.3.3 Environmental Issue
Land Use Environmental NGOs have strong concerns about impacts on the environment. In addition to those on rainforests, they argue that uncontrolled developments in the Cerrado area could pose a serious threat to the environmental benefits
from the area. Land use impacts of sugarcane production are addressed by other
contributors to this book by using life cycle assessment and other scientific methods. Even those who promote the expansion of sugarcane plantation admit the existence of such concerns about the environment. On the other hand, they argue that the
physical area for sugarcane plantation is relatively small compared to the existing
pasture and underused land. They also argue that the impact could be controlled
through the mapping effort by the federal government and land use regulations by
the state government. The tension between developers and environmental advocates
needs to be addressed by stakeholder processes that incorporate sound science and
forecasts.
Open Burning As we have mentioned before, open burning is another important
environmental issue. The ban on open burning leads to the mechanization of harvesting. Therefore, this issue must be considered in connection with other societal
issues such as national labor policy.
9.2.3.4 Political issue
Biofuel Deployment Policy of the Importing Countries Export demand is a political
issue as well. For instance, several environmental NGOs challenge the prospect of
CO2 reduction through sugarcane-based bioethanol fuels. Such pressures from the
civil society organizations increase the political uncertainty of biofuel deployment
policies in each country and region. Even there is a wide gap between the Japanese
government’s stated goals and the actual deployment of biofuels. From the perspective of Brazil as an exporting country, policies of other importing nations and their
implementation are a crucial issue in forecasting the export demand for
bioethanol.
9 Social, Economic, and Political Impacts
protection (including climate change and air pollution). The balance between these
two pressures must be well balanced.
Income Disparity Within Brazil Sugarcane harvesting has traditionally been undertaken by the seasonal migrant workers from the north where the economic development is much slower than in it is other region. The majority of sugarcane plantation
developments in Brazil is expected in the southern part of Brazil and this trend may
even widen the income disparity between these regions. Meanwhile, the Brazilian
government is promoting feedstock production for biodiesel in the northern Brazil,
which have implications on adjusting the income disparity.
9.2.3.3 Environmental Issue
Land Use Environmental NGOs have strong concerns about impacts on the environment. In addition to those on rainforests, they argue that uncontrolled developments in the Cerrado area could pose a serious threat to the environmental benefits
from the area. Land use impacts of sugarcane production are addressed by other
contributors to this book by using life cycle assessment and other scientific methods. Even those who promote the expansion of sugarcane plantation admit the existence of such concerns about the environment. On the other hand, they argue that the
physical area for sugarcane plantation is relatively small compared to the existing
pasture and underused land. They also argue that the impact could be controlled
through the mapping effort by the federal government and land use regulations by
the state government. The tension between developers and environmental advocates
needs to be addressed by stakeholder processes that incorporate sound science and
forecasts.
Open Burning As we have mentioned before, open burning is another important
environmental issue. The ban on open burning leads to the mechanization of harvesting. Therefore, this issue must be considered in connection with other societal
issues such as national labor policy.
9.2.3.4 Political issue
Biofuel Deployment Policy of the Importing Countries Export demand is a political
issue as well. For instance, several environmental NGOs challenge the prospect of
CO2 reduction through sugarcane-based bioethanol fuels. Such pressures from the
civil society organizations increase the political uncertainty of biofuel deployment
policies in each country and region. Even there is a wide gap between the Japanese
government’s stated goals and the actual deployment of biofuels. From the perspective of Brazil as an exporting country, policies of other importing nations and their
implementation are a crucial issue in forecasting the export demand for
bioethanol.
9 Social, Economic, and Political Impacts