Farmers are among the country’s most important conservationists, but that has not made them immune to criticism from environmental activists. Sugarcane farmers are no strangers to that criticism, often portrayed as contributors to water pollution, carbon emissions, and soil degradation. But the reality of sugarcane farming is more nuanced and far more hopeful. 

Few examples make that clearer than U.S. Sugar, a Florida-based sugarcane grower and processor that’s turned decades of research and innovation into measurable, on-the-ground environmental progress. From planting and harvesting to processing and transporting roughly 13 percent of America’s refined sugar, the company has incorporated efficient and sustainable practices into each stage of its operation.

U.S. Sugar farmers are farming to maintain and improve productivity while reducing environmental impact.  One area is in the fields of the Everglades Agricultural Area, spanning nearly 250,000 acres, where farmers deploy best management practices that were developed in partnership with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS). These practices include precision techniques such as GPS land leveling to optimize field layouts and water management, controlled-release fertilizers to minimize nutrient runoff, and Autosteer tractor technology to enhance efficiency and reduce fuel consumption. Thanks to these innovations, U.S. Sugar’s greenhouse gas emissions per ton of sugarcane have fallen by 21 percent between 2012 and 2024, even as total sugarcane harvested rose 34 percent.

Efficient water management is central to its farming approach. U.S. Sugar participates in one of the most closely monitored water treatment programs in the world, requiring farms to reduce phosphorus from the water before it leaves the fields. Phosphorus in runoff is especially concerning because natural waters contain only small amounts, and even slight increases can lead to algal blooms, deplete oxygen levels, and disrupt both wetland and coastal ecosystems. Last year alone, farmers in the Everglades Agricultural Area (including U.S. Sugar farmers) achieved a 62 percent phosphorus reduction, contributing to a 57 percent total annual average decrease since 1996, more than double what Florida law mandates. These measures have prevented thousands of metric tons of phosphorus from reaching the Everglades, ensuring that the water leaving the farms is cleaner than when it arrived.

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Their technology innovation goes beyond farm operations. At the Clewiston, Florida, sugar mill, their zero-waste approach reduces both waste and dependence on fossil fuels. The facility recycles water and composts byproducts, returning valuable nutrients to the soil and reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers. Instead of letting the agricultural byproducts go to waste, U.S. Sugar turns them into energy. The fibrous residue from sugarcane, known as bagasse, is burned to produce steam and electricity, powering the mill with renewable energy. It’s a closed-loop system that ensures every part of the crop is utilized efficiently, and generates enough clean power for their operations and a surplus to power approximately 25,000 homes each year.

That same efficiency carries through to how the company moves its harvest. Instead of relying on fleets of trucks, U.S. Sugar hauls its sugarcane to the mill using its own 300-mile internal railroad. A single train can carry the same load as two tractor trailer trucks, resulting in lower emissions, fewer trucks on local roads, and a simplified harvest season that keeps both operations and communities running more efficiently.

Over the company’s nearly 100-year history, its farmers and employees have established an impressive record of stewardship and care for Florida’s natural resources. Year after year, its farmers have exceeded Florida’s strict water-quality standards, cut emissions, and proven that meaningful progress doesn’t depend on government mandates. It comes from private investment, collaboration with scientists, and a steady commitment to improvement.

The views and opinions expressed are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of C3.