The agricultural recycling of organic residues (OR) represents an important level in agro-ecological transitions. ORs are used to provide the nutrients needed for crop growth and to improve soil properties, as an alternative to mineral fertilizers. In Réunion, sugarcane represents 58% of agricultural area and offers opportunities to promote OR recycling. We tested the ability of a crop growth model (STICS) to simulate the sugarcane growth response to different climates, soils and nitrogen management. The STICS model was calibrated using the ECOFI database that included more than 10 years of sugarcane trials in Réunion. After calibration, the model was tested using the TERO network. In this network, four trials were set-up in contrasting soil and climatic conditions to assess the growth response of different cane cultivars to increasing levels of N (as urea and organic fertilisers). Despite being only recently applied in tropical areas and in sugarcane cropping systems, the STICS crop model accurately simulated growth in response to soil, climate and fertiliser variability. In the context of a circular economy, the STICS model could be coupled with a territorial model of OR management. This approach would make it possible to evaluate management strategies for ORs and to identify optimal areas for applying them.