Sugar Tech最新文献

The armyworm, Spodoptera litura Fabricius, 1775 (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera) is a serious and emerging insect pest of sugar beet in India, resulting in significant yield losses. A phylogenetic tree was constructed using the CLUSTAL W and neighbour joining technique, and a neighbour joining haplotype network was formed using PopArt to assess the relationships between S. litura haplotypes. The evolutionary divergence of different strains of Indian-origin S. litura was calculated using the p-distance method in MEGA 11. Neutrality indices, including Tajima’s D, Fu, and Li’s F, was calculated to test the hypothesis of selective neutrality using DnaSPv6. Larval identification relied on the morphological characteristics, while the molecular characterization utilized the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene with universal primers (LCO1490 and HCO2198). A DNA fragment of approximately 700 bp from mitochondrial COI revealed two different strains (OP420870 and OP117231) infesting sugar beet crops under Indian subtropical conditions. The amplified barcode sequences exhibited variations in both strains, with genetic divergence ranging from 0.0 to 0.79. The strains OP420870 and OP117231 displayed maximum divergence at 0.74 and 0.73, respectively. Interpopulation nucleotide differences (Kxy) and the average number of nucleotide substitutions per site between populations (Dxy) in different states of India were calculated at 336.42 and 0.61, respectively. The pairwise Fst value was 0.63, with an Nm value of 0.15. One of the identified strains of S. litura in this study was also found to be a haplotype. This study provides valuable insights into the genetic characterization of S. litura infesting sugar beet crops in Indian subtropical conditions, contributing to the understanding of its population structure and diversity. The findings enhance our knowledge of S. litura infestations and can aid in the development of effective strategies for pest management and crop protection in sugar beet.

Food and allied industries mainly contribute to the country’s GDP. Among the food industries, the sugar industry plays a pivotal role in producing food and energy products. The present study aimed to assess carbon footprint based on a gate-to-gate life cycle assessment approach and identify the hotspots of greenhouse gas emissions to promote carbon neutrality. The estimated carbon footprint for the selected sugar industry was 199.4 tonnes of CO₂ eq per tonne of sugar produced, to which electricity was a significant contributor. The milling process is the most critical contributor (40.1%) to embodied energy, cost, and electricity consumption in the sugar process, followed by cane fibrizers (21%) and Juice heaters (12.1%) stages. The embodied energy consumption for the sugar product is 49,052,795.75 MJ/tonne, and the total greenhouse gas emissions per tonne of sugar produced is 10,452,103. Based on the assessment, short and long-term goals are suggested to reduce the carbon footprint and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in the sugar industry.

Sugarcane (Saccharum sp. hybrid complex) is an important industrial crop as a source of food and bio-energy. Its juice can act as a cheaper renewable substrate for bio-ethanol production because it contains free sugars like sucrose or monosaccharides (especially, glucose) that can be directly converted into ethanol via fermentation with the help of microorganisms. The present study reports on bio-ethanol production potential of 22 different sugarcane varieties/clones (early and mid-late) that were initially screened for cane yield and components traits, physiological and juice quality traits. Among 22 clones/varieties, six varieties viz, CoPb 95, CoPb 92, Co 0118, CoPb 93, CoJ 88, and Co 0238, were identified for good bio-ethanol production potential on the basis of leaf area (cm²), fresh weight (kg), Brix (%), extraction (%) and fiber (%) cane. These varieties were further evaluated for other biochemical traits and bio-ethanol production potential under laboratory scale and scale-up studies using yeast strain (Saccharomyces cerevisiae MK 680910). Two varieties CoPb 92 (early) and CoJ 88 (mid-late) having higher initial sugars and ethanol content under laboratory scale were selected as potential sugarcane varieties for scale-up studies. Study at 5 L scale reported that CoPb 92 variety exhibiting initial Brix (20.97%), total sugars (20.05 g/100 mL), and reducing sugars (0.567 g/100 mL), yielded 12.40 (%v/v) initial ethanol content with fermentation efficiency of 96.21 (%) and ethanol yield 0.50 (g/g) in early group. After double distillation of the fermented wort, the ethanol content of 78.46% (v/v) was achieved with ethanol recovery of 0.329 L. Similarly, variety CoJ 88 reporting initial Brix (20.24%), total sugars (19.88 g/100 mL), and reducing sugars (0.814 g/100 mL juice) yielded initial ethanol content of 11.68 (%v/v) with fermentation efficiency of 94.49 (%) and ethanol yield of 0.47 (g/g) in mid-late group. Recovery of 0.301 L ethanol was obtained after double distillation with ethanol content of 75.45 (%v/v). The sustainability of economy/ revenue of sugar industry relies on either reduction in the production cost of sugar or to divert sugar industry toward energy and power generation. Therefore, a cultivar intended for the production of ethanol ought to possess elevated levels of total sugars or percentage of commercial cane sugar, in conjunction with a substantial cane yield. The information generated in the present study can be added as a basic input to scale-up technical process toward enhancing the production of bio-fuel in sugar industries by switching over from sole sugar production to ethanol production, depending on the situations (sugar deficit/sugar surplus) in the market.

The ASEAN nations play a significant role in the global sugar trade, collectively contributing approximately 10% of the world’s sugar production. These countries produce over 17 million tons of sugar annually, with imports and exports amounting to 9,108,624 tons and 7,421,737 tons, respectively, while domestic consumption stands at 15,836,900 tons. Thailand holds the position of the second-largest sugar exporter globally, commanding a 60% share of exports after Brazil. Indonesia ranks as the world’s third-largest sugar consumer and a significant importer. The Philippines, another sugarcane-producing country, focuses primarily on domestic consumption but aims to transition into a net sugar exporter. Southeast Asian countries represent 13% of global centrifugal raw sugar exports and 14% of global sugar imports, thereby exerting considerable influence on the global sugar trade. The annual import volume across ASEAN countries typically ranges from 5 to 6 MT, with cane sugar being the primary internationally traded sugar commodity from the region. Despite having favorable conditions, cane productivity, sugar production, and the overall status of the sugar industry in these nations face region-specific challenges. Sugarcane cultivation across ASEAN nations have been affected by climatic changes such as the El Niño phenomenon over the years. The governments of ASEAN Nations are taking initiatives to overcome this challenge. Recent economic developments, such as the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), alongside related reforms, have spurred these countries to adapt to emerging circumstances and enhance global competitiveness. This review highlights the current state of the sugar industry in the ASEAN countries, the challenges encountered by these nations in this sector, government initiatives to boost sugarcane production, and the way forward, particularly in light of new economic developments in the region.

Last year on, September 9, 2023, India launched the Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA) along with other 8 countries during the G20 Summit in New Delhi. The core purpose of the alliance is to promote the biofuels at global front mitigating the whooping carbon emissions in turn tackle the climate changes. India remarkably achieved 10 percent ethanol blending in June 2022 and is expecting to the availability of E20 blend to 2025. The country is already blending 20 percent ethanol which is available at more than 1600 retail outlets across the country. Now, after launching the GBA, India may take leap forward in pushing ethanol not only as biofuel but also as an ideal solvent in cosmetic, pharmaceutical and allied sectors. The judicious utilization of both first- and second-generation feedstocks (1G and 2G) into ethanol production can cater its growing demand. In the present scenario, mixed ethanol (1.5G ethanol) could be a suitable choice harnessing 1G and 2G feedstock without compromising the food and feed requirements. This manuscript critically appraises the Indian ethanol program, production statistics of ethanol, availability of 1G and 2G feedstock, technology profile and commercialization status of ethanol in India. Considering the potential of ethanol business and government support, many potential private companies are embarking on ethanol as a potential blending in gasoline. Indigenous production of ethanol and its blend in gasoline would empower the Indian economics while saving the foreign exchange reserves as country imports more than 70% gasoline requirements.

Utilization of agroindustrial waste, such as press mud from the sugar industry, presents a compelling opportunity to address both economic and environmental concerns. Press mud is obtained during sugarcane juice clarification, is rich in sugar, minerals, and nutrients, making it a valuable resource for various applications. Since it is rich in nutrient, primarily press mud is used as manure for crop growth such as rice, maize, and wheat especially sugarcane. It increases the higher quality, yield, shoot, and root length. Press mud is mixed with bioinoculants, inorganic fertilizer, and it also contains native inoculum. It reduces the usage of chemical fertilizer. In addition to fertilizer, press mud is also used as biofuel, with detailed exploration into its conversion into biogas, biocompressed natural gas, and hydrogen, providing renewable resource, cost effective, eco-friendly alternatives, and contributions. Press mud role as an animal feed is delved into showcasing its inclusion in diets for layers, swine, broilers, and lambs and demonstrating its potential to reduce expenses without compromising growth. The economic, energetic, and environmental feasibility of these processes are discussed, highlighting the potential of press mud to contribute significantly to sustainable energy solutions. Sugarcane press mud is positioned as a versatile and valuable resource through this comprehensive exploration, offering solutions to waste management, agricultural enhancement, and sustainable energy production. The widespread adoption of press mud utilization is advocated by the findings, promoting a holistic approach to address both agricultural and environmental challenges. In future days, press mud can be explored as potential bioinoculant, renewable sources, and viable alternative feed.