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Why are some sugarcane-growing areas switching to harvesting unburned cane?
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Sugarcane
Field of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) in St. George Parish, Barbados.
Some sugarcane-growing areas are transitioning to harvesting unburned cane primarily due to environmental considerations.1
Traditionally, sugarcane fields are burned before or after harvest to clear away leaves and trash that can dull harvesting equipment blades, as well as to drive out pests such as rodents and snakes. However, the practice of burning has come under scrutiny due to its environmental impact, prompting a shift toward harvesting whole, unburned cane in several regions.1