Page 18 - Tropic Magazine Issue 37

TROPIC • AGRICULTURE

Sugar sweetener “It is exciting as a cane grower to be at
the starting point of a new chapter in
DIVERSIFICATION our sugarcane industry’s story. We are
ready to lead the transition, working with
The sugarcane industry has existing and new investors.”
developed a roadmap to take
advantage of the bioeconomy.

Words: Renee Cluff 2
I think we can be an
Sugar growers are making the move “Both the Federal and Queensland
away from their reliance on the volatile industry that the state and governments have supported the
global sugar market as the industry the nation can be proud of development of the roadmap, seeing
positions itself to fuel the future of food, that a strong and diversified sugarcane
energy and fabrication. Peak industry Owen Menkens industry secures the future prosperity
organisation CANEGROWERS has CANEGROWERS Chair of regional communities. We can be an
developed a document that helps pave industry that people want to support,
the way to a more diversified future. want to be involved in and that young
Chairman Owen Menkens said the Sugar The blueprint for future sustainability of people want to start their career with.”
Plus roadmap builds on conversations the industry includes plans to develop Options for diversified products include
from a Sugar Industry Leaders Forum in new revenue streams in the medium plant-based foods, alternative proteins,
late 2020. “This document has been two term and become a bioeconomy biochemicals and biomaterials
and a half years in the making,” he said. powerhouse in the long term. “We know for packaging. Smaller taskforces will
that the green and renewable crop we now be established to develop more
grow has huge potential to be the raw specialised action plans.
material for products such as biofuels
and bioplastics and we’ve been pushing
for this kind of whole-of-industry 1. Credit: CANEGROWERS
collaboration,” Mr Menkens said. 2. Credit: Far Northern Milling
“This roadmap points the way, outlining
priorities and actions which the whole MORE: canegrowers.com.au
supply chain has agreed to.

What is the bioeconomy?
It’s the production of renewable biological resources and the conversion
of those resources and waste streams into value-added products.
The global bioeconomy is estimated to be worth $11 trillion by 2030.

Source: The World Business Council for Sustainable Development
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18 • Tropic • Issue 37