haʊˈɛvɚ, wˌaɪl ðɛɹ mˈeɪ biː ɐ pˈɑːzᵻtˌɪv nˈɛt ˈɛnɚdʒi ɹᵻtˈɜːn æt ðə mˈoʊmənt, ɹˈiːsənt ɹᵻsˈɜːtʃ sədʒˈɛsts ðætðə ʃˈʊɡɚkˌeɪn plæntˈeɪʃənz ɑːɹ nˌɑːt səstˈeɪnəbəl ɪnðə lˈɔŋ ɹˈʌn, æz ðeɪ ɑːɹ dᵻplˈiːɾɪŋ ðə sˈɔɪl ʌv njˈuːtɹiənts ænd kˈɑːɹbən mˈæɾɚɹ ɔnðɪ ˈʌðɚ hˈænd, pɹˌɑːdəktˈɪvᵻɾi ʌv ʃˈʊɡɚ kˈeɪn pɜː lˈænd ˈɛɹiə ɪn bɹɐzˈɪl hɐz kənsˈɪstəntli ɡɹˈoʊn ˌoʊvɚ ðə dˈɛkeɪdz; ʃˈʊɡɚ kˈeɪn hˈæzbiːn ʃˈoʊn təbi lˈɛs dᵻplˈiːɾɪŋ tə ðə sˈɔɪl ðɐn kˈæɾəl ænd jˈɪɹli kˈʌltʃɚz; ænd ðɛɹˌɑːɹ mˈɛni ɹˈiːdʒənz ɪnðə kˈʌntɹi wˌɛɹ ʃˈʊɡɚ kˈeɪn hˈæzbiːn kˈʌltᵻvˌeɪɾᵻd fɔːɹ sˈɛntʃɚɹiz.
However, while there may be a positive net energy return at the moment, recent research suggests that the sugarcane plantations are not sustainable in the long run, as they are depleting the soil of nutrients and carbon matter   On the other hand, productivity of sugar cane per land area in Brazil has consistently grown over the decades; sugar cane has been shown to be less depleting to the soil than cattle and yearly cultures; and there are many regions in the country where sugar cane has been cultivated for centuries.