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GuySuCo and the Environment
 The long-term future of GuySuCo is partially dependent on:
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sustainable
and economic cane production
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a
healthy and productive workforce
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the
ability to sell sugar and other products in the international market.
All of these require that GuySuCo makes the maximum use of
the factory byproducts and disposes of any waste products in a safe and
environmentally friendly way in accordance with the
GuySuCo Environmental Policy.
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The GuySuCo Environmental Policy
To implement an Environmental Management System for the cultivation of sugar-cane and the manufacture of sugar and its by-products for the prevention of pollution, both within the Corporation's boundaries and in proximal communities. The system will involve all employees. It will be compliant with national legislation and defined internationally acceptable standards, and will be subject to continual review and improvement by management to ensure that environmental goals are achieved. The system will be developed in conformity with ISO 14001.
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Some key features of GuySuCo and the Guyana sugar industry
include:
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100% utilisation of bagasse (the fibre remaining after
the cane juice has been extracted) for power generation for use in the
factories. Future expansion of
factories will allow the distribution of surplus into the national electrical
distribution system (co generation).
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100% utilisation of Filter press mud (the sediment
remaining after the cane juice has been clarified) as a soil conditioner or
ameliorant. The mud has high contents
of nutrients (especially phosphate, essential for rapid germination of cane)
and organic matter.
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close cooperation with the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) to ensure that GuySuCo's
environmental controls and mitigation measures keep pace with the introduction
of new regulations for the control of emissions from its factories.
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 the use of Flood Fallowing on most of the soils of the
sugar industry. This is the practice of
submerging the land under fresh water for between 6 and 12 months after tillage
but before planting. This is a unique practice only made possible by the very flat topography, very heavy
clay soils and abundant fresh water.
The main effects of Flood Fallowing are to:
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kill all weeds and weed seeds so that when the land is
drained the weed pressure is very low, thus reducing subsequent weed control
operations including the use of herbicides;
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regenerate the soil structure by the reduction and
subsequent oxidation of iron within the soil.
The oxidised iron coating on the soil particles prevents the particles
from running together and gives a long lasting soil structure;
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improve the fertility of the soil thus reducing
subsequent fertiliser requirements;
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leach out salts from some soils. The build-up of salts in can be a problem in
some areas especially in dry years or when there has been seawater flooding.
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the use of Vetiver grass to help prevent soil erosion
by stabilising soil (e.g. on drain sides and
canal edges) and absorb and prevent the movement of contaminants (e.g.
close to land-fill sites and waste disposal ponds). Vetiver grass is also being evaluated as a natural insect
repellent and a potential barrier to rat migrations into sugar cane.
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the phasing out of all sprayed pesticides on the estates. All insect pest control is by natural
predation and parasitism (aided by releases of bio-control agents reared in estate
insectaries) and cultural methods (e.g. flooding fields to control the Castnia
borer).
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a large-scale Organic Sugar project at Uitvlugt estate. Over 100 ha of sugar cane are being grown without the use of any artificial fertilisers, herbicides or pesticides.
Sugarcane has been cultivated
successfully on the coastal strip of Guyana for hundreds of years. Through sound business practices,
modernisation and care for the Environment GuySuCo will continue to grow and
produce sugar for the indefinite future.
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