Sugarcane

Culture:

Sugarcane is commonly harvested in cooler months,

except for countries such as Cuba, Philippines, Columbia,

and similar tropical areas. Sugar is made up of a group of

carbohydrates, Cn(H2O)n. The most often consumed

sugar is called sucrose, which is found in most plants and

mostly used as an industrial sweetener in foods. Sucrose

is a disaccharide created by a glucose molecule linked to

a fructose molecule. Sugar is known for its promising

energy biofuels that developed in Brazil. Sugar raises

blood sugar, which can result in weight gain and damage

to the eyes, kidneys, heart, and nerves. Though without

enough sugar it can result in weight loss and lack of

energy. Sugar is needed in human cells to produce a

healthy amount of insulin, which determines energy.

hannah britt Campbell, Lila Elrod,  Tori Mcdermott, Sydney Wynn

Abstract: 

Sources: 

Sugarcane is believed to have originated near India.

The development of sugarcane slowly spreaded across

Southern Asia. Sugarcane was then sold to European

countries such as Spain and Portugal, which began

growing sugarcane in their African colonies. Later, when

the New World became a popular area for trade and

establishment, Europe began trading to places such as

Cuba and Brazil where slaves were used to harvest the

crop and send to manufacturers to produce goods like

molasses and alcohol which would then be shipped

elsewhere in exchange for Old World money and

commodities.

Origins:

Biology:

Due to the slave trade, the majority population of many

Caribbean nations is Afro-Caribbean. For example, Haiti’s

population is 95% ancestrally African. Christianity is the

majority religion in Haiti, with African voodoo being practiced

by 2.1% of the population (Central Intelligence Agency). As

tropical diseases subsided and Europe suffered the costs of

World War I, the Caribbean became a popular vacation

destination. Today, the Caribbean’s culture is a blend of

indigenous, African, and European. Over 75% of sugar

produced today is derived from sugarcane, and according to

a study from 2016, the average American eats roughly 60

pounds of sugar per year.

Economics:

Sugarcane was deliberately brought to the Americas because

the soil was well suited for the cultivation of sugarcane. The

Europeans found it off the coast of Africa while trading for

slaves, and due to the popularity of the crop, they took it to

the New World. Sugarcane needed lots of land and workers

that could handle the extensive work that needed to be put

into the making of sugarcane. Since slaves were cheap and

worked very diligently, the two became linked for centuries.

Once sugarcane reached the Americas, the sugar industry

thrived. The crop suited the Caribbean soil well which led to

plantations in several countries, vitalizing slave

labor. Originally Natives were used for labor, but the small

population and uncommon sickness’ made it hard for them to

work. African slaves became common since their bodies

could handle the work European diseases. This saved lots of

money because their labor was free and many could be

traded for a small price. Since the Caribbean land was

suitable for the plant and easy to work with, lots of land could

be taken for plantations and for the slaves to live on as well.

Molasses was used as an additive for foods and livestock

feed. Over time it was added to alcohol to make them more

enjoyable. The West Indies became largest sources of sugar

in late 1600s. The economies of Barbados, Guadalupe, and

Martinique were based on sugar, with 93-97% of it exports

being sugar.

The Columbian exchange was an exchange of plants,

animals, and diseases between the Americas and Afro-

Eurasia. Our group researched the exchange and impact

of sugarcane on the new and old worlds and some of the

causes and effects of this crop's exchange. Sugarcane

was an important cash crop that contributed to the growth

slavery and the growth of the economy in the New World.

As we did our research of this crop, we discovered several

things about sugarcane's impact on history and our world

today.

Molasses is also known as "Poor Man's Sugar."

In 1750, Haiti was the largest producer of sugar.

Sugar crystals are made from the juice inside sugarcane,

rather than actual sugar.

Fun Facts:

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