Biotechnologies to Improve Sugarcane Productivity in a Climate Change Scenario

Sugarcane plays a central role in sugar and ethanol production. Ethanol from sugarcane is considered sustainable since lignocellulosic residues can increase crop productivity without altering planted areas, providing a valuable portion of the compensation for carbon dioxide emissions caused by fossil fuels. In this way, developing biotechnologies applied to increase sugarcane productivity is essential, especially in coping with stressful environments, which may cause a loss of productivity. This review first scrutinizes the literature to analyze the international collaborations among researchers working with sugarcane biotechnology, driven by sugarcane-producing countries, to understand its biochemical and molecular physiology associated with local environmental features. We then examine the literature to highlight some scientific improvements related to genetics and genomics and the use of omics tools for understanding sugarcane physiology. These new technologies have helped improve sugarcane's physiological performance, addressing increased productivity without expanding the planting area, to important traits for resistance to stresses associated with global climate change. However, one of the most critical challenges remains the sequencing of the sugarcane genome, which still needs to be improved for precise genetic engineering strategies. We conclude that systems biology approaches integrating large amounts of data are essential. We need integration capable of affording specific modifications in the sugarcane genome (e.g., using CRISPR-Cas9 technology) to control plant behavior precisely. Coupled with modeling tools (e.g., Integration Assessment Modeling), this approach could provide the necessary precision control of designed plants to cope with a changing environment.