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Greg joins Kevin and Risa on the Morning Blend for another round of Green discussion.  In the season of sweet treats we’re talking sugar…

“More than 145 million tonnes of sugar is produced per year in about 120 countries. Annual consumption is expanding each year by about two million tonnes. 

The growing and processing of sugar produce environmental impacts through the loss of natural habitats, intensive use of water, heavy use of agro-chemicals, discharge and runoff of polluted effluent and air pollution. This leads to the degradation of wildlife, soil, air and water where sugar is produced and of downstream ecosystems.

WWF considers that concerted action is required among all stakeholders in sugar production if a more sustainable future is to be guaranteed for this ubiquitous product.”

Sugar cane production has played a significant role in damaging the FLA Everglades and Great Barrier Reef as well as damaging biodiversity and soil conditions in Gayana, Turkey, Hawaii, Spain, Pakistan, Turkey, Bolivia, Cuba and more.

The chief causes of damage are:
•  Ground Clearing – reducing biodiversity and increasing soil erosion
•  Irrigation – Sugar, along with cotton and rice is considered one of the most water intensive crops.  This can deplete local reservoirs, or in the case of irrigation, lead to runoff of fertilizers and persicides as well as execrating soil erosion.
•  Pesticide use – “The negative impacts of pesticide use on human health are considerable; the World Health Organization estimates that there are 25 million cases of acute chemical poisoning in developing countries each year related to pesticide use in agriculture.”  Numerous pesticides have been linked to cancer.  ”Despite widespread concern over pesticide misuse, the total value of world sales has increased 2.5 times in the last 20 years, to US$30 billion.”

•  Fertilizers – Widely used to compensate for unsustainable farming practices typically almost 30% of fertilizers run off and contaminate surrounding water, impacting fisheries and marine life.  Crops may absorb between 8% – 44% of fertilizers leaving roughly another third to the soil.  Over repeated seasons this leads to soil acidification.

A More Sustainable Model

Of course we could do well to reduce our consumption of sugar; see this About.com article on the negative health effects of these empty and needless calories.  But in the meantime the WWF suggests “Sustainability in the sugar industry does not necessarily imply reduced productivity and profits; indeed, measures to address environmental impacts can provide economic benefits for farmers or mills through cost savings from more efficient resource use.”

•  Irrigation – Using targeted techniques like drip irrigation and centre pivot irrigation combined with trash mulching are vastly more efficient

•  Fertilizers – combining the irrigation method above with fertilizer is called “Fertigation” and can result in a 30% reduction in the use of fertilizers.  (remember about 30% was being left behind to acidify the soil using conventional methods).  Additionally bio-fertilizers like cow manure are more readily absorbed by soil.

•  Pesticides – Are often used indiscriminantly by untrained farmers.  Additionally studies have shown the pesticides often kill off favorable predatory insects while the damaging insects develop resistance.  Education, reduced use, and a shift to a “whole system” approach to farming yield far better results.

The complete 36 page World Wildlife Report can be downloaded here