Latest news with #sugarcane
ABC News
a day ago
- Business
- ABC News
Growers paid to experiment with sugarcane on land traditionally used for peanuts, grains
Fourth-generation peanut farmer Ben Rackemann was hesitant when his father suggested growing sugarcane at a time when farmers across Queensland were abandoning it. But when the local mill offered to pay him to plant it, he took the chance to trial a new crop on his Coalstoun Lakes property, 300 kilometres north of Brisbane. Just over a year later, it is hard to deny its success as test results show the high-quality potential of the stalks now towering over him. As the industry faces pressure from shrinking plantings and waning investment, he is among the few not giving up on sugar. Mr Rackemann's cane crop is one of the first for the small community, which will be crushed at the Isis Central Sugar Mill, 70 kilometres away. In 2024, the mill offered farmers $500 per hectare to plant on land not used for cane in the past three years. Chief executive Craig Wood said supply had increased as other nearby mills closed, but the future remained uncertain. "There's been a major change since 2001 … with the advent of macadamias and so forth," he said. "We have been down to a very low ebb, but now we're starting to see a little bit extra [planted]. Mr Rackemann is trialling five varieties on irrigated and dry land across 46 hectares, which will be ready for harvest next year. "We're still learning … but it's exceeded all expectations," he said. "We just got estimates in terms of yield, and I'm pretty happy." He said the irrigated cane yielded about 110 to 120 tonnes per hectare, while the dry land was close to the mill's 10-year average of between 80 and 90 tonnes per hectare. It did not take long for farmers in the small community to notice the new crop and its potential. The Rackemanns' neighbour Kerry Dove planted his sugarcane trial block almost a year ago, hoping for a reliable alternative to his usual rotation crops. The invasive fall armyworm made his previous corn and sorghum crops unviable, and unusually heavy rain halved his latest peanut crop. "We're hoping that this will work … we'll just wait and see the tonnes per hectare we get and the dollars per hectare we make," Mr Dove said. If successful, he could plant a further 30 hectares. "In the next couple of years, there will be more trials and a little bit more confidence may build in the area." Grower representative group Canegrowers chief executive Dan Galligan said over the past 20 years, tough weather conditions and poor mill performance had contributed to many leaving the industry. But he said diversification projects, like using cane for biofuels, had helped slow the trend. "We're seeing places expand out of what might have been horticultural crops back into cane," Mr Galligan said. While planting incentives were commonly used to increase cane supply, Mr Galligan said the trial at Coalstoun Lakes was unique. Isis mill's productivity services officer Anthony LaRocca has been tasked with making the crop work, 150 kilometres from the coast, where frost, lack of water, and volcanic rock present new challenges. He worked with farmers to determine planting windows and appropriate cane varieties, and to manage their expectations. "That region is different from what is a common cane-growing area, so we didn't want to elevate their expectations beyond what we thought was capable," he said. Mr LaRocca said the trial was also providing new insight into soil and moisture conservation methods. "They've been successful farmers for a long time," he said. "I don't want to go up there and tell them: 'This is the rule book' … we've adapted to suit their conditions." It is not the first time the mill has tried to grow sugarcane in new areas. In 2017, plots were planted in Gayndah in the North Burnett, about 40 kilometres inland from Coalstoun Lakes. While deemed a success, access to water and transport that relied on the re-establishment of an old rail corridor ultimately proved insurmountable. Next year, the first official harvest will use a mix of hired specialist equipment and modified machinery before the sugarcane is trucked to the mill. "We've got a lot of learning to do between now and that point, but we'll just take it a year at a time and see how it ends up," Mr Rackemann said.
ABC News
4 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
Mossman growers experiment with new industries as sugarcane future remains uncertain
For more than 125 years Mossman's cane growers have delivered a crop to the mill for crushing, but for some this year will be the last. Since the closure last year of their local factory near Port Douglas in Queensland's far north, farmers have been experimenting with other crops, as the future of their multi-generational industry is still uncertain. Their current harvest is trucked 100 kilometres to Mulgrave for crushing, but this subsidised short-term solution may not be sustainable long term. The Queensland government has put together a $12.5 million package announced in the budget to support Mossman cane growers with the loss of the sugar mill. About $6m of those funds will fully subsidise the cost of transporting this season's cane harvest from Mossman to Mulgrave Mill, which is critical for growers to make a profit. The other $6m will be used to work towards long term solutions and projects beyond 2025. Discussions between stakeholders are taking place about how this money is best spent. Determined to stay on the land, growers say they have no choice but to try growing crops other than cane. Fourth-generation Mossman farmer Don Murday is the deputy chair of Queensland Cane, Agriculture and Renewables, a group that advocates for sugar growers. He believes making fuel from plants is the future for Mossman, and has been trialling bana grass, a crop similar to sugarcane but without the sucrose content, used to create biofuels. He said the results had been great so far and this would most likely be his last year growing sugarcane. "The leading projects I believe in this transition are bana grass for renewable energy," he said. "I'm going to transition into bana grass with maybe a few other crops in the interim, but I won't be planning any more sugarcane. "I may well be taking the sugarcane out after this harvest." From a financial perspective, Mr Murday said using the grass to produce biomass — organic material that can be converted into a renewable energy source — was a viable option. "With the predicted tonnages of the bana grass and the price that's being offered, we're looking at gross value of between $4,000 and $5,000 per hectare with lower growing cost than sugarcane," he said. "So I believe growing the bana grass will compare very favourably to growing the sugarcane at the current prices." Matthew Watson also farms in Mossman and has been trialling different crops including coffee, cocoa, corn and sorghum. He also sees potential in bana grass, which he said was practical to grow in the district. "Bana grass is a grass the same as cane … it grows the same, you can plant it the same, cut it the same [and] we've got all the machinery to do that," Mr Watson said. "It seems to be growing really well in the trial patches that they've got around the district at the moment. Growing anything without a local processor would be challenging, and Mr Murday and Mr Watson are both apprehensive about what will become of the Mossman factory. Mr Murday said he hoped it could be turned into a biomass processing facility. "It's probably 12 to 18 months before we're going to have any commercial quantities [of bana grass] available, and one of the processes that we're looking at is could effectively be operating within 12 months from the time they're given the go-ahead," he said. For now, Mr Murday is only growing bana grass for propagation — experimenting with reproducing the plants — and not for commercial processing. Mr Watson said it would be hard to see a clear future for his farm until more decisions about ownership of the mills or new processing facilities were made. "We really just don't know, unfortunately," he said. "The killer is the not knowing what you're doing from day to day, trying not to get stuck in the negatives."
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Trump pushing Coke to use real sugar in its sodas is set to revive iconic southern industry
President Trump's push to re-introduce cane sugar to Coca-Cola has raised hopes of an economic boom in Louisiana 's sugarcane industry. Farmers in the southern state say they are overjoyed after the White House announced it had struck a deal with the soda giant to return cane sugar to some of its products. The move will shift Cokes away from high-fructose corn syrup and back to natural sugar, elating Louisiana growers whose produce is set to become a hot commodity. Ross Noel, a fourth-generation sugarcane farmer in Donaldsonville, LA, told KLFY that the new soda recipe will benefit far more than just the farmers growing the sugar cane. 'In our state, sugar isn't just a crop, it's a community,' he said. 'Our kids go to school here. Our families work the land to keep our little communities and towns going. 'Any positive effect to Louisiana sugarcane growers will also help the community, as far as jobs, and the demand for sugar.' The deal from Trump to introduce cane sugar back into Coke is part of a wider push from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to bring back natural ingredients to everyday foods. In Louisiana, farmers say that the natural ingredients trend could be a game changer for its crop-growing industry. 'There's something special about growing a crop that's real, simple, and trusted—and that is something to be proud of,' Noel told KLFY. This trend also previously saw Steak 'n Shake announce in February that it would switch from vegetable oil to beef tallow in its French fries recipe. The move to beef tallow isn't just a coincidence, as the chain actually mentioned RFK Jr. and his 'Make America Health Again' (MAHA) movement in an announcement about the change. Steak 'n Shake wrote on X, 'By March 1 ALL locations. Fries will be RFK'd!' Although Trump lauded his deal with Coca-Cola as a huge win for the MAHA movement, industry chiefs warned that consumers may end up paying more as a result. Experts warned that removing sweeteners from the drink in favor of real sugar could cost thousands of American jobs in manufacturing, and the idea has already caused chaos on the stock market. Corn Refiners Association CEO John Bode released a statement on Thursday warning that the recipe change could trigger economic mayhem and political turmoil. 'Replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar would cost thousands of American food manufacturing jobs, depress farm income, and boost imports of foreign sugar, all with no nutritional benefit,' Bode said. Coca-Cola bosses said last week that they are adding a cane sugar option to their drink lineup, but did not say that they were removing their high-fructose corn syrup options. 'As part of its ongoing innovation agenda, this fall in the United States, the company plans to launch an offering made with U.S. cane sugar to expand its Trademark Coca-Cola product range,' the soda giant said. 'This addition is designed to complement the company's strong core portfolio and offer more choices across occasions and preferences.' Corn syrup industry experts have warned that removing sweeteners from the drink in favor of real sugar could cost thousands of American jobs in manufacturing Trump's announcement has already prompted shockwaves in the stock market, costing investors billions of dollars. Shares in Archer Daniels Midland, a leading corn processor, plunged almost six percent in pre-market trading following Trump's announcement. This reflects a potential hit to investors of around $1.5 billion. Another major corn refiner, Ingredion, also suffered a nosedive in value, with shares dropping almost seven percent. Trump famously installed a red button on his desk that allows him to quickly summon a Diet Coke, his favorite drink. In his Truth Social post pushing for the controversial recipe change, Trump praised Coca-Cola chiefs, saying: 'This will be a very good move by them — You'll see. It's just better!'
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sweetening soft drinks: What to know about sugar, high-fructose corn syrup and their alternatives
President Donald Trump teased the announcement last week, but the Coca-Cola Co. confirmed it Tuesday: a cane sugar-sweetened version of the beverage maker's trademark soda will be released in the U.S. this fall. For decades, Coke and the makers of other soft drinks have generally used high-fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners in their products manufactured in the U.S. But American consumers are increasingly looking for food and drinks with fewer and more natural ingredients, and beverage companies are responding. PepsiCo and Dr Pepper have sold versions of their flagship sodas sweetened with cane sugar since 2009. Coca-Cola has sold Mexican Coke — which uses cane sugar — in the U.S. since 2005, but it's positioned a trendy alternative and sold in glass bottles. Coke with cane sugar will likely be more widely available. Here are some frequently asked questions about the sweeteners in U.S. sodas: What's the difference between cane sugar and high-fructose corn syrup? Many consumers know that consuming too many sweets can negatively affect their health, but soda drinkers sometimes debate if either cane sugar or high-fructose corn syrup is better (or worse) than the other. The short answer is that it doesn't make a difference, said Marion Nestle, one of the nation's top nutrition experts and professor emeritus at New York University. High-fructose corn syrup is made of the simple sugars glucose and fructose in liquid form. Cane sugar, also known as sucrose, is made of glucose and fructose bonded, but quickly split, Nestle explained. Both are still sugars, with about the same amount of calories. Whether a can of Coca-Cola contains one or the other, it will still be a sugary drink with about the same amount of calories and the same potential to increase well-documented health problems from obesity and diabetes to tooth decay. Why did soda companies switch from using sugar to high-fructose corn syrup? High-fructose corn syrup costs less. According to price data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the wholesale price of HFCS-55, the type of corn syrup most commonly used in beverages, averaged 49.4 cents per pound last year. The average wholesale price of refined cane sugar was 60.1 cents per pound, while the average wholesale price of refined beet sugar was 51.7 cents per pound. But high-fructose corn syrup has advantages beyond price. According to a 2008 paper in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, high-fructose corn syrup is more stable than sugar when added to acidic beverages, and it can be pumped directly from delivery trucks into storage and mixing tanks. Why is high-fructose corn syrup less expensive that sugar? Tariffs are one reason. The U.S. has had barriers on sugar imports almost back to its founding; the first went into place in 1789, according to the Cato Institute, a think tank that advocates free markets. Since the passage of the Farm Bill in 1981, the U.S. has had a system in place that raises duties on sugar once a certain amount has been imported. The U.S. also has domestic production controls that limit supplies, keeping prices higher. But high-fructose corn syrup is also cheaper because of the federal government's billions of dollars in subsidies for corn farmers. Loans, direct payments, insurance premium subsidies and surplus crop purchases all lower farmers' costs – and the price of the corn they grow. Are sugar replacements used in diet sodas safe? While cutting back on added sugars has documented benefits, replacing them with artificial sweeteners is complicated, too. Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, introduced in 2017, uses the artificial sweetener aspartame and the natural sweetener stevia in its recipe. But research suggests that aspartame may be linked to cancer. In 2023, a committee for the World Health Organization determined that aspartame should be categorized 'as possibly carcinogenic to humans.' While that doesn't mean that diet soda causes cancer, the scientific committee concluded that there may be a possible link between aspartame and liver cancer, and that the issue should be studied further. The U.S. Food and Drug administration disagreed with the WHO panel, citing 'significant shortcomings' in the research that backed the conclusion. FDA officials noted that aspartame is one of the most studied food additives and said 'FDA scientists do not have safety concerns' when it is used under approved conditions. Stevia, a plant-based sweetener, appears to be 'a safe choice,' according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, an advocacy group. ___ Durbin reported from Detroit. Aleccia reported from Los Angeles. Dee-ann Durbin And Jonel Aleccia, The Associated Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Associated Press
22-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Sweetening soft drinks: What to know about sugar, high-fructose corn syrup and their alternatives
President Donald Trump teased the announcement last week, but the Coca-Cola Co. confirmed it Tuesday: a cane sugar-sweetened version of the beverage maker's trademark soda will be released in the U.S. this fall. For decades, Coke and the makers of other soft drinks have generally used high-fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners in their products manufactured in the U.S. But American consumers are increasingly looking for food and drinks with fewer and more natural ingredients, and beverage companies are responding. PepsiCo and Dr Pepper have sold versions of their flagship sodas sweetened with cane sugar since 2009. Coca-Cola has sold Mexican Coke — which uses cane sugar — in the U.S. since 2005, but it's positioned a trendy alternative and sold in glass bottles. Coke with cane sugar will likely be more widely available. Here are some frequently asked questions about the sweeteners in U.S. sodas: What's the difference between cane sugar and high-fructose corn syrup? Many consumers know that consuming too many sweets can negatively affect their health, but soda drinkers sometimes debate if either cane sugar or high-fructose corn syrup is better (or worse) than the other. The short answer is that it doesn't make a difference, said Marion Nestle, one of the nation's top nutrition experts and professor emeritus at New York University. High-fructose corn syrup is made of the simple sugars glucose and fructose in liquid form. Cane sugar, also known as sucrose, is made of glucose and fructose bonded, but quickly split, Nestle explained. Both are still sugars, with about the same amount of calories. Whether a can of Coca-Cola contains one or the other, it will still be a sugary drink with about the same amount of calories and the same potential to increase well-documented health problems from obesity and diabetes to tooth decay. Why did soda companies switch from using sugar to high-fructose corn syrup? High-fructose corn syrup costs less. According to price data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the wholesale price of HFCS-55, the type of corn syrup most commonly used in beverages, averaged 49.4 cents per pound last year. The average wholesale price of refined cane sugar was 60.1 cents per pound, while the average wholesale price of refined beet sugar was 51.7 cents per pound. But high-fructose corn syrup has advantages beyond price. According to a 2008 paper in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, high-fructose corn syrup is more stable than sugar when added to acidic beverages, and it can be pumped directly from delivery trucks into storage and mixing tanks. Why is high-fructose corn syrup less expensive that sugar? Tariffs are one reason. The U.S. has had barriers on sugar imports almost back to its founding; the first went into place in 1789, according to the Cato Institute, a think tank that advocates free markets. Since the passage of the Farm Bill in 1981, the U.S. has had a system in place that raises duties on sugar once a certain amount has been imported. The U.S. also has domestic production controls that limit supplies, keeping prices higher. But high-fructose corn syrup is also cheaper because of the federal government's billions of dollars in subsidies for corn farmers. Loans, direct payments, insurance premium subsidies and surplus crop purchases all lower farmers' costs – and the price of the corn they grow. Are sugar replacements used in diet sodas safe? While cutting back on added sugars has documented benefits, replacing them with artificial sweeteners is complicated, too. Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, introduced in 2017, uses the artificial sweetener aspartame and the natural sweetener stevia in its recipe. But research suggests that aspartame may be linked to cancer. In 2023, a committee for the World Health Organization determined that aspartame should be categorized 'as possibly carcinogenic to humans.' While that doesn't mean that diet soda causes cancer, the scientific committee concluded that there may be a possible link between aspartame and liver cancer, and that the issue should be studied further. The U.S. Food and Drug administration disagreed with the WHO panel, citing 'significant shortcomings' in the research that backed the conclusion. FDA officials noted that aspartame is one of the most studied food additives and said 'FDA scientists do not have safety concerns' when it is used under approved conditions. Stevia, a plant-based sweetener, appears to be 'a safe choice,' according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, an advocacy group. ___ Durbin reported from Detroit. Aleccia reported from Los Angeles.
