Imperative 21: 2nd vision: Mega co-ops' joint venture production of ethanol, sweeteners and ethanol-fueled vehicles
South American production of ethanol from sugarcane is said to garner a 50% gross profit margin. Mega co-ops may raise the margin to 70% or so by replacing sugar cane with sweet sorghum as feedstock. Sugarcane is harvested once a year versus sweet sorghum at 2.5 times a year. Furthermore, irrigation and cultivation costs for sweet sorghum are just a third that of sugarcane, and sweet sorghum juice is sweeter than sugarcane juice. Sweet sorghum juice may also be converted into bottled syrup or vinegar for sale to retail stores, homes and food factories. Sweet sorghum grains may be used for production of stevia-sweetened fruity cookies sprinkled with herbal anti-oxidant powders as preventives versus diabetes, hypertension and ageing. Sweet sorghum leaves and stalks are tasty fodder for cattle, goats and sheep. Thru strip cropping and alternate planting and harvest of farm plots, sorghum harvests can be perpetual (the Philippines has year-round sun), which means endless produ