Resumo

AGUILAR-RIVERA, Noé. Mexican sugarcane agroindustry diversification paradigm. Convergencia [online]. 2012, vol.19, n.59, pp.187-213. ISSN 2448-5799.

Special attention in the diversification strategy must be given to the efficient use of the potential of sugar cane with the objective of increasing the value added using chemicals and biotechnologies as complements for sugar production. From cane harvest and processing, it is possible to obtain eight products and byproducts (sucrose, ethanol, trash, bagasse, molasses, filter mud, vinasse, and ashes) and a significant number of production processes could be developed. However, industrial production of byproducts and sugarcane derivatives has not shown a constant development and in Mexican sugar industry there has not been a significant change in the diversification pattern in the past few decades. The objective of this paper is to analyze the trends and patterns of diversiication and related development in the Mexican sugar industry based on secondary and primary data. It was also found that the absence of a national model of diversification, lack of knowledge and information were the major constraints towards sugarcane agriculture (crop sector), bio-fabric (industrial sector) efficient and sustainable production.

Palavras-chave : sugar industry; productive diversification; byproducts; constraints.