A groundbreaking study led by Tuskegee University and Florida A&M University (FAMU) sheds new light on the environmental and economic impacts of preharvest sugarcane burning in South Florida’s Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA). Conducted in response to longstanding concerns from local residents, the research reveals that while burning does produce fine particulate matter, its overall contribution to regional air pollution is minimal and far outweighed by the economic and social benefits of the sugar industry in the region.