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Eike Batista is back with an ambitious plan to revolutionize agribusiness. “Cellulose sugarcane” promises to multiply the production of ethanol and biomass, with the potential to generate billions in revenue. Could this new super sugarcane be what he needs to revive his career?
Just when we thought that Eike Batista, the former billionaire who once dominated the headlines, had retired from the spotlight, he resurfaces with ambitious plans to shake up one of Brazil's most promising sectors: agribusiness.
After a spectacular fall in the oil sector, which culminated in a series of lawsuits linked to Operation Lava Jato, many believed that the businessman had left behind his grandiose dreams. But now, Eike reappears with a new proposal: to radically transform the sugarcane economy. And he is not thinking small.
With a speech of optimism and innovation, Eike Batista returns with the promise of making sugarcane yield much more than just ethanol. The idea, in his own words, is to “turn the sugarcane economy upside down” with the introduction of a new variety known as “cellulose cane”.
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This plant promises to revolutionize not only ethanol production, but also generate enough biomass to supply other industries such as plastics and paper, and even the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) market. The ambition, of course, is to make this project a reality that will transform Brazil into an even greater power in the sugar-energy sector.
From oil to sugarcane: an ambitious plan
According to a Eike Batista, the project to develop a “supercane” is not new. He and his partner, Luis Rubio, have been working on this for over 10 years. The initial idea, launched in the late 2000s, was already promising, but faced difficulties and was almost abandoned.
Initially known as “energy cane,” the plant had a higher fiber density than conventional cane, making it ideal for generating biomass. Now renamed “cellulose cane,” the variety has been adapted to meet the demands of the current scenario, where sustainability is becoming increasingly important.
Eike, in an interview with AgFeed, revealed that meetings with sugar mill owners and businesspeople from the agricultural sector have been held to promote the exchange of traditional sugarcane for “cellulose sugarcane”. His role in the project, as he himself admits, is that of an advisor, but his involvement is so great that he is the main voice behind this new venture. The company responsible for developing the new varieties is BRXe, which has invested more than R$350 million in the project so far.
A super-powerful sugarcane: what “cellulose sugarcane” promises
The big difference between “cellulose cane”, according to Eike Batista, is its ability to generate productivity much higher than conventional sugarcane.
According to data presented by him, the new variety can yield up to 180 tons per hectare over 10 years, while traditional sugarcane reaches an average of 80 tons per hectare and is productive for only five years.
This superior productivity is also reflected in the ethanol yield, which could triple per hectare, and in the generation of bagasse, which would be seven to twelve times greater.
The economic impact of this supercane would be gigantic, according to the estimates of the Eike. Ethanol production in Brazil, which in 2023 was around 35,4 billion liters, could jump to more than 106 billion liters just by replacing current varieties. This would generate revenue of US$ 106 billion, considering the sale of SAF at US$1 per liter, well above the US$0,77 per liter for conventional ethanol.
In addition to ethanol, the biomass generated by “cellulose cane” could be used to produce green plastic, biodegradable packaging and other sustainable products, further increasing the project’s profit potential. The expectation of Eike is that this variety will become standard in Brazilian sugarcane fields in the coming years.
The past that inspires the future
The passion of Eike for great projects comes from his father, Eliezer Baptistfounder of OK and one of the main people responsible for the industrialization of Brazil. Eliezer was a key player in transforming the country into a powerhouse in the production of paper and cellulose, by encouraging the use of eucalyptus in the 1960s.
Eike Batista se inspired by this success story for your new venture, believing that “cellulose cane” can do for the sugar and alcohol sector what eucalyptus did for the paper industry.
“We are seeking to create the largest sugarcane genetic improvement program on the planet,” Eike said in an interview. To this end, the team at BRXe, leadered by Blond and by the renowned researcher Sizuo Matsuoka, one of the greatest experts in sugarcane biotechnology in Brazil, has been crossing around 300 thousand species of sugarcane per year to find the most productive varieties.
Challenges and the promising future
Although the project is ambitious, it is not without its challenges. The biggest of these, according to the Eike Batista admits, is the production of seedlings. The BRXe It currently has the capacity to plant 4 hectares per year, but the goal is to increase this capacity to 80 hectares by 2026. Another obstacle is convincing producers and investors, who need to believe in the revolutionary potential of the new variety to invest in its adoption.
Despite these challenges, Eike Batista is optimistic. He believes that his supercane could be a true revolution in the sector and promises extraordinary financial results.
Each 70-hectare module would require an investment of R$360 million, but would generate R$600 million in annual revenue just from the production of ethanol. The businessman also highlights that, with greater bagasse production, the sector will be able to completely replace the use of traditional plastic with sustainable alternatives.
“The legacy we want to leave is a sugarcane that benefits the entire sugar and alcohol industry over the next 20 years,” he says. Eike. The challenge, however, goes beyond promoting innovation; he also needs to restore his own image in the market, proving that, this time, his dream can become reality.
Could Eike Batista's supercane revolutionize Brazil's sugarcane industry, or will it be just another unfulfilled promise? Share your opinion in the comments!
I have quantum MHR Ecouturb technology applied to this cane, it will be possible to carry out the project with great ease
What is EMBRAPA's opinion? The report could go further into this matter.
Introducing new varieties is not an easy task in any crop. I imagine that Eike already knows this and must have a short, medium and long-term strategy. The person who makes a variety be adopted by a farmer is another farmer. It is no use relying only on a technical team and planning to implement large areas at the beginning; it has to be done gradually. In practice, convincing farmers is done in a 5-year cycle.