There is a growing trend toward the use of renewable sources to produce clean energy and mitigate the effects of climate change. Second-generation lignocellulose biomasses, such as agro-residues, comprise a potential energy source as a byproduct of agriculture. Ecuador has optimal climate conditions that allow for the cultivation of different types of crops. This makes agriculture a relevant economic activity in the country; however, the residues obtained from agriculture have not been investigated for the establishment of a bioenergy industry. This study evaluated the potential of three varieties of sugarcane bagasse, named PR 980, CC 85-92, and CB 40-59, for bioenergy production in the Ecuadorian Andes. The bagasse was quantified by means of weighing, and then evaluated via calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis as well as proximal and elemental analysis. The results showed that these materials met the criteria for direct combustion, exhibiting both a low nitrogen content of 0.30 ± 0.12% and ash values of 6.20 ± 1.20%. Among the analyzed varieties, CB 40-69 stood out as the most suitable for power generation within the cogeneration system; this was attributed to its superior dry calorific value of 17.37 ± 1.45 MJ kg⁻¹, greater presence of volatile materials, and negligible ash content. Variety CB 40-69 (157.91 t ha⁻¹) reported the highest biomass and bagasse production (56.32 t ha⁻¹). Analysis of the SCB structure concluded that the three varieties did not differ significantly in their contents of lignin, hemicellulose, and cellulose, which is essential to implementing an industrial process for bioethanol production.

Climate variability and land use/land cover changes (LULCC) can intensify soil erosion. This study evaluated the relative influence of LULCC and climate change on soil water erosion in an Andean watershed in Ecuador. Soil erosion was assessed using the RUSLE model for 1996, 2023, and 2040. Future erosion was predicted for 2040 using projected land use/land cover (LULC) and two climate scenarios under the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways SSP585 (pessimistic) and SSP126 (optimistic). Meanwhile, LULC was projected until 2040 through a Cellular Automata Markov model (CA-Markov). Climate scenarios for 2021–2041 were generated through statistical downscaling of the MPI-ESM-1-2-HR climate model. Results showed that erosion increased by 17.8% from 1996 to 2023; meanwhile, by 2040, it is projected to increase by up to 65.1% under both climate scenarios. A factorial sensitivity analysis revealed that LULCC is the primary driver of erosion, accounting for over 82% of the total variation in erosion, while the contribution of climate change remains secondary. These findings suggest that in tropical mountain zones, loss of vegetation cover has a greater impact on erosion rates than climatic variability, regardless of the climate scenario, confirming that the effect of climate change on soil erosion remains marginal.