Monsanto says sweet sorghum can shore up Brazilian ethanol shortfalls

In Brazil, Monsanto said that it expects to yield up to 21 million gallons of ethanol this year from 20,000 hectares of sweet sorghum planted as an alternative feedstock for the October-February period. During this period, sugar cane has low sugar levels.

Approximately 1.7 million hectares are cleared and replanted in sugar cane annually, which Monsanto said is their target for planting sweet sorghum as an inter-harvest crop. The company said that, owing to the low sugarcane harvest this year, they may see as much as 100,000 hectares planted in 2012.