Thursday 15 November 2018

Barbados Sugar Cane Research Adapting to the Future

Barbados Energy Cane Research Eco-Friendly Power of the Future



Barbados has been at the cutting edge of sugar cane research from 1858. Researchers discovered new ways to propagate new varieties from cane arrow seeds. More than 30,000 new genotypes are propagated from seed each year. The testing goes through 6 states over 13 years.  A handful of new strains that succeed and are passed onto farmers.

Originally research focused on developing varieties that were  that were immune to pests and climatic change. Today they also focus on establishing new by products for environmentally energy and sustainable eco-friendly living.




 Barbados sugar cane field by st. Nicholas abbey

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s sugar-cane research laboratory in Houma has concluded that sugar cane is by far the most effective crop for ethanol. In its labs U.S. scientists are working hard to to develop strains of sugar cane that may be grown specifically for the production of biofuels like ethanol. source Houmatoday 

Cherry Tree Hill Barbados- Sugar by the sea 

Many countries ethanol became a significant coproduct of sugar mills. Countries like Brazil and India have in fact started to generate significant amounts of surplus electricity. This is becoming a trend for new sugar/ethanol mills. Specialists in the sector now see sugarcane as an energy feedstock rather than a food feedstock.

Its also noted that the fibers in the cane are  also important quality parameters as many materials can be produced from them. In the caribbean thoughts are cane containers might replace syraform foood containers in local supermarkets.

 


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