Queensland's sugar industry has had another taste of success as its research into improved crop yields using genetic selection with major innovation rivals Brazil and India pipped at the post.Queensland's sugarcane crop yields are set to grow by $24m in the first year of gene selectionThe state's renewable energy grid could see a significant boost from the increased crop
The increased amount of sugar cane would also lead to an increase in the material needed for biofuel production. "It should add in the order of $24 million to the value of each crop, but the beauty of genetics is it's cumulative," he said. Managing director of Green Pool Commodities and sugar analyst Tom McNeill said Queensland's booming crop would help to address global shortages of sugar.
The sugarcane genome is one of the most complex plant crops with modern varieties containing between 110 and 120 chromosomes.Queensland's sugar industry currently powers 27 per cent of the state's renewable energy grid, according to the Australian Sugar Milling Council."Sugar is the raw material for making biofuels, so this research makes crops more efficient to ultimately produce those biofuels," Professor Hayes said.
"As a sugarcane farmer, I'd like to think that this genomic selection can increase our productivity, which would be beneficial to any of the value-adding of our industry, including biofuels," she said.Ms Thatcher was hopeful the increased crop sizes would uncover new markets the Australian industry could break into.