Ethanol production by sugar cane is not too far behind ethanol production by corn. Different from corn, sugar cane provides sugar instead of starch, which is easier to convert to alcohol. While corn requires both heating and fermentation, sugar cane requires only fermentation. Brazil produces the majority of the world’s sugar cane and was the largest producer of alcohol in the world until recently, when it was surpassed by the United States. Every year, Brazil produces around 5 billion gallons of fuel ethanol.

Disadvantages of Sugarcane:

• Even though yield is higher than corn, it is still rather low

• Many regions are unsuitable for cultivation

• A food staple in countries like South and Central America

Advantages of Sugarcane:

• Equipment and infrastructure needed for planting, harvesting, and processing is already in place

• No land use changes necessary

• Yield of an average of 650 gallons per acre, higher than that of corn

• If land use changes do not occur, carbon dioxide emissions will be 90% lower than for conventional gasoline