3728 research projects
Research project
Eliminating roll arcing
Sugar Research Australia (SRA)
The extraction of sugar from cane stalks involves passing crushed stalk material between a series of large metal rolls to squeeze out the juice. Roll arcing, the roughening of mill rolls through a welding process, represents a major maintenance cost for mills, and is also a significant health, safety and...
1 Jul 2019 - 1 Aug 2022
Queensland, Australia
Research project
Australian sugarcane industry soil health benchmarking in the Wet Tropics region of QLD - increasing profit and transforming soil health practices through cooperative industry research, extension and adoption
Sugar Research Australia (SRA)
This project will directly address soil and nutrient management practices which have off-farm impacts on water quality of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). The project was developed in collaboration with partners to ensure local relevance and ownership. Improved soil health increases the soil’s capacity to store and use water and...
1 Jul 2019 - 31 Oct 2021
Queensland, Australia
Research project
Harvester losses assessment by real-time Machine Vision Systems
Sugar Research Australia (SRA)
A harvester's speed and the speed of the extractor fan influence how much extraneous matter is retained as well as how much sugarcane juice is lost during harvesting. The objective of this project is to develop a proof-of-concept Machine Vision System that evaluates cane loss during harvest by imaging to...
1 Jul 2019 - 31 Jul 2021
Queensland, Australia
Research project
Modern diagnostics for a safer Australian sugar industry
Sugar Research Australia (SRA)
Exotic sugarcane pests and pathogens pose a substantial risk to the Australian sugarcane industry. Among exotic insect pests, moth borers are a major concern as they are widespread in Southeast Asia, including Papua New Guinea and Indonesia to our north, where they cause substantial yield losses. The introduction of any...
12 Mar 2018 - 30 Jun 2022
Queensland, Australia
Sugar Research Australia (SRA)
Research project
Investigations to mitigate the effects of sucrose degradation and acid formation in factory evaporators on sugar recovery and quality, corrosion and effluent loadings
Sugar Research Australia (SRA)
To remain financially viable Australian sugar milling groups must diversify to cogeneration or other products. Generally, diversification requires that sugar factories increase energy efficiency and reduce steam consumption to generate surplus bagasse, for uses other than sugar manufacture. For sugar factories to achieve this, higher temperatures of process steam are...
1 Jul 2017 - 1 Mar 2022
Queensland, Australia
Research project
Transformational crop protection - Innovative RNAi biopesticides for management of sugarcane root feeding pests
Sugar Research Australia (SRA)
Current crop protection strategies rely on plant genetic resistance and pesticides sprays. Toxicity both in terms of human health and the environment, lack of specificity, and the development of resistance, persistence of residues and runoff into our precious waterways are major issues with the use of chemical pesticides. Transformative RNA...
24 Jun 2021 - 30 Jun 2024
Queensland, Australia
Research project
Implementation of root system diagnostics to deliver a field-based measure for root health
Sugar Research Australia (SRA)
Deterioration of the physical, chemical and biological qualities of soils, known collectively as soil health, has been identified as a major factor in declining productivity. The Soil Health Program aims to increase adoption of best practice using a toolbox of positive change indicators to demonstrate and monitor progress. Healthy root...
1 Jul 2018 - 1 Oct 2021
Queensland, Australia
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
Research project
Strategies to minimise impacts of processing existing soft cane varieties, and industry cost/benefit analysis
Sugar Research Australia (SRA)
In recent years a number of new varieties have come through the breeding program with poor fibre quality, resulting in soft cane that causes problems during milling. This project will identify the best strategies to process these soft canes in the factory. Some soft cane varieties have such high sugar...
1 Jul 2019 - 1 May 2022
Queensland, Australia
Research project
Environmental DNA technologies and predictive modelling for rapid detection and identification of sugarcane priority pests and diseases
Sugar Research Australia (SRA)
Biosecurity planning and surveillance is important for the on-going profitability and sustainability of the sugarcane industry. Existing biosecurity surveillance is based on trapping pests or in-field identification of diseases by specialist entomologists and pathologists. All organisms shed their DNA into the environment and this environmental DNA (eDNA) can reveal their...
1 Jun 2021 - 1 Jun 2024
Queensland, Australia
Research project
Characterising nitrogen-use efficiency in sugarcane
Sugar Research Australia (SRA)
More efficient nitrogen (N) use in cropping systems can be achieved through improved N management combined with genetic improvement. Sugarcane breeding in Australia focuses on improving sugar yield in different environments, but less attention has been given to improving efficiency of inputs like nitrogen and water. Improving nitrogen use efficiency...
1 Jul 2018 - 30 Sep 2022
Queensland, Australia