ABSTRACT
Mozambique has extensive areas with possibilities for the expansion of sustainable production of sugarcane in areas with high and medium potentials, even considering moderate restrictions, thus avoiding agrarian conflicts, high costs with irrigation, areas with problems of mechanization and high carbon stock. Colombia has 17.3 million hectares for sugarcane expansion, of which 6.5 is considered if all strong and moderate restrictions are considered simultaneously. Soil and climate conditions contribute to the differences between the countries, and socioeconomic factors also differ. Lack of precipitation seems to be a great challenge in Mozambique, whereas excess of rainfall limits sugarcane production in a significant area of Colombia, driving sugarcane expansion out of the forested areas. Expansion of sugarcane area driven by ethanol will be a novelty in both countries. Countries can learn from the recent Brazilian experience, with expansion on the Cerrados. The rapid area expansion in new areas, with changing technologies (mechanization), showed that first years of production might require care.
