3727 research projects
Research project
Validating high throughput phenomics technologies for sugarcane clonal selection
Sugar Research Australia (SRA)
High yielding optimally adopted varieties are crucial to increase industry profitability and maintain sustainability. However, in recent years, genetic gains have stagnated across most sugarcane breeding programs including in Australia. The breeding program currently uses a selection index based on traits like cane yield, sugar and fibre content. However, these...
1 Jul 2019 - 30 Sep 2022
Queensland, Australia
Sugar Research Australia (SRA)
Research project
Improving pan-stage performance by on-line monitoring of C seed grainings using the ITECA Crystobserver
Sugar Research Australia (SRA)
Pan stage crystallisation is largely undertaken without direct control of the main process parameters. For example, there is no supersaturation measurement and no on-line crystal sizing system. Indirect measures such as conductivity and ad hoc checking of proof samples under a microscope are currently used. Tighter control of the pan...
1 May 2020 - 1 May 2022
Queensland, Australia
Research project
Genetic analysis and marker delivery for sugarcane breeding
Sugar Research Australia (SRA)
New varieties are the major drivers of productivity in the Australian sugarcane industry. However, the development of new varieties takes approximately 12 years, and many important traits such as disease resistance are only assessed relatively late in the breeding cycle. The use of molecular markers linked to key traits in...
1 Jul 2018 - 30 Jun 2022
Queensland, Australia
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
Research project
Implementing and validating genomic selection in SRA breeding programs to accelerate improvements in yield, commercial cane sugar, and other key traits
Sugar Research Australia (SRA)
Improvement in yields in sugarcane has been slow, particularly in the last decade, despite the fact that yield is one of the major drivers of profitability (with a 1% improvement in yield being worth $12.5M per annum to the Australian sugarcane industry). The low rates of yield improvement reflect the...
1 Jul 2017 - 1 Jul 2022
Queensland, Australia
Research project
Maximising cane recovery through development of a harvesting decision support tool
Sugar Research Australia (SRA)
Harvest losses in the sugarcane industry have been estimated to be over 10% in the form of cane loss, billet damage and high extraneous matter. Also, it is estimated that an additional 15% (approximately 4.5m tonnes) of industry-wide tonnage is required to maintain the viability of mills. As a result,...
1 Jan 2021 - 30 Jun 2023
Queensland, Australia
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