Location: Commodity Utilization Research
Project Number: 6054-30600-003-000-D
Project Type: In-House Appropriated
Start Date: Jun 23, 2025
End Date: Jun 22, 2030
Objective:
Objective 1: Improved sugar crop processing to increase efficiency and quality.
Sub-objective 1A. Development of rapid, easy, and inexpensive indicator methods to measure quality traits in sugar cane for desirable properties and processing performance.
Sub-objective 1B. Analysis of sugarcane billet harvesting practices and cut-to-crush transient time to improve raw sugar yields and quality.
Sub-objective 1C. Evaluation and optimization of antimicrobial agent application for mitigation of sucrose losses and operational challenges.
Sub-objective 1D. Applications of big data and machine learning principles for improved efficiency in sugar crop processing and raw sugar manufacturing.
Objective 2: Development of novel, sustainable, and marketable goods from sugar processing co-products.
Sub-objective 2A. Development of targeted designer biochar from sugar processing byproducts (bagasse, field residue and beet pulp) for multiple uses (soil amendment, remediation, etc.) .
Sub-objective 2B. Development of new bio-based flocculants from sugarcane processing byproducts.
Sub-objective 2C. Development of exopolysaccharides from sugarcane processing bacterial isolates as functional food additives.
Approach:
There is a need by the sugar industry to improve sugar quality and processing and to develop new co-products to increase the profitability for farmers and processors. This can be accomplished by:
• using existing processing, environmental, and breeding data to explain and predict production yield and sugar quality.
• reducing sugar losses due to microbial action by improving sanitation or microbial control, and more effectively utilizing the byproducts to make co-products.
Therefore, our research objectives are:
1. Improved sugar crop processing to increase efficiency and quality. This will include:
a. Development of rapid, easy, and inexpensive indicator methods to measure quality traits in sugar crops for desirable properties and processing performance.
b. Analysis of billet harvesting practices and cut-to-crush transient time to improve raw sugar yields and quality.
c. Evaluation and optimization of antimicrobial agent application for mitigation of sucrose losses and operational challenges.
d. Application of big data and machine learning principles for improved efficiency in sugar crop processing and raw sugar manufacturing.
2. Development of novel, sustainable, and marketable goods from sugar processing co-products. This will include:
a. Development of targeted designer biochar from sugar processing byproducts (bagasse, field residue, and beet pulp) for multiple uses (soil amendment, remediation, etc.).
b. Development of new bio-based flocculants from sugar processing byproducts.
c. Development of exopolysaccharides from sugarcane processing bacterial isolates as functional food additives.
The outcome of this research will result in the following anticipated products:
• New tools to assist breeders for evaluating processability of crop varieties,
• a better understanding of the impact of transportation and processing parameters on sugar factory performance,
• science-based recommendation for use of antimicrobials and microbial control, and bio-based flocculants for clarification of sugar juices chemicals.