Some time ago, I read an article in a certain publication that if the United States to raise the import Brazilian ethanol, in fact would be changing the oil dependency by the Arabs and that Amazon would be totally destroyed.

As I read, smoke started coming out my ears because for a long time did not read anything as stupid as that. Let me explain why.

The sugar cane was introduced in Brazil in the sixteenth century and since then the process of cultivation of this plant is being enhanced. In Brazil there are two areas where the sugarcane is planted: Northeast and Southeast. The production of the Northeast is much lower than the Southeast, because is limited to just some specific regions and productivity is not as high.

Where else sugarcane is planted is in the state of Sao Paulo. About 70% of national production comes from here. You may even imagine that in Sao Paulo has only sugarcane plantations, but that does not correspond to the facts. Just over 20% of the arable area is used for cane, and the remainder goes for the cultivation of oranges, coffee, corn, family farming and also for cattle raising. There is a reason why the state of Sao Paulo is the richest in the country, and that reason is the diversified economy.

The two major producers are the regions of Piracicaba and Ribeirao Preto. In these cities are concentrated large plants that produce sugar, ethanol and energy. But there is production of sugar cane in other states, but not in Amazon. Sao Paulo is 2000 km away from the Amazon Forest. Moreover, the soil of the Amazon region is not very suitable for the cultivation of various products, unless those who are typical of local biodiversity, as the rubber tree. What threatens the Amazon are the timber industry, but this is a topic for another article.

Piracicaba

What Brazil wants to do is transform the ethanol into a commoditie so that it can have more profits, making billionaires investments in other regions. The President Lula on his trips to Africa, said that would like to see started the production of ethanol there, and that would provide the necessary resources (investment and technology). Brazil is also an eye on Cuba and other countries of Central America.

Ribeirão Preto

Behind this “goodwill” are billionaires interests who want to expand the production of ethanol to other parts of the world. Only one of the major groups already provided $ 5 billion for future investments.

Santos

Thus, Brazil would not maintain the monopoly on production of ethanol, or destroy the Amazon, but would have a profit margin. It is not charity, but capitalism.