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In this article, I examine the multiple tensions and interactions between social reproduction and the trajectories of accumulation amidst climate change in India's historically drought-prone Marathwada region. By linking everyday experiences to broader socioecological transformations, I draw on the local practice of Gate-Cane weddings in Marathwada, and situate it within the context of climate change, capitalist agriculture, and gendered labour relations. Specifically, I document the ways in which cyclical drought and peculiar labour arrangements in the sugarcane industry have multiplied the drivers and compounded the problem of early marriage in the region. I combine a feminist political ecology framework with social reproduction and girlhood theories to make a twofold argument: first, recurring dry spells, loss of local livelihoods and the urgency to migrate and survive, are aggravating the drivers of early marriage in Marathwada. Second, by absorbing the marital unit into the labour unit – marked by territorial dislocation, patriarchal control, and devaluation of young women's and girls' work – the sugar industry sustains and reproduces early marriage. The article is based on a multi-sited feminist ethnography, including intergenerational family conversations, group discussions, stakeholder interviews, and thick field notes documented in village households and cane fields between October 2020 and August 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methane production using sugarcane industry effluents remains challenging due to the numerous operational variables that can affect the process. Nevertheless, it is essential to understand how different factors influence the performance of reactors used for this purpose. This study investigated the effect of interactions among different parameters in the anaerobic co-digestion of vinasse and molasses: (X1) proportion of vinasse and molasses (V/M = 27/75, 50/50, 75/50), (X2) COD concentration (3, 6, 9 g/L), and (X3) addition of alkalizer (0.5, 1, 1.5 gNaHCO3/gCOD). A Box-Behnken experimental design was performed, employing fifteen 310 mL batch reactors, with 150 mL consisting of a 90% substrate mixture and 10% inoculum (sewage sludge), stirred at 120 rpm, and maintained at 35 ºC. Results showed that reactors exhibited COD removals from 2.92 to 58.41% and total volatile solids removal between 15.74 and 69.12%. Maximum methane production potential of 1055.77 mLCH4 occurred for V/M = 25/75, 6 gCOD/L and 0.5 gNaHCO3/gCOD. The alkalizer presented a negative linear effect on methane yield and production rate, which achieved maximums of 297.85 mLCH4/gTVSappl and 12.81 mLCH4/gTVSappl/d under V/M = 50/50, COD = 9 g/L, and 0.50 gNaHCO3/gCOD. V/M and COD factors were not statistically significant at the 95% confidence level. Nevertheless, higher proportions of vinasse favored the responses at lower COD concentrations. Therefore, the current investigation verified that the co-digestion of vinasse and molasses is a technically feasible option for renewable energy production. However, the efficiency of this process is notably influenced by the addition of NaHCO3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We review the negative impacts of vinasse, a byproduct of alcohol distillation, on Brazil's freshwater ecosystems. We found a total of 37 pollution events between the years 1935 and 2023, with this number almost certainly an underestimate due to underreporting and/or unassessed events. Pollution by vinasse occurred both through accidents (e.g., tank failure) and deliberately (i.e., opening of floodgates), although in many cases the causes remain undetermined. All pollution events caused fish kills, with some records reporting negative effects on other organisms as well (i.e., crustaceans and reptiles). Pollution by vinasse, and associated negative effects, was reported for 11 states, with a notable number of cases in São Paulo. Most cases of vinasse pollution and negative impacts on biodiversity were recorded in rivers, followed by streams and reservoirs. Some of the affected river systems harbour threatened freshwater fishes. Hydrological connectivity means that pollution could have propagated along watercourses. Given these consequences of vinasse pollution on biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and services, we recommend a number of remedial actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Red rot disease reduces sugarcane yield and impacts the sugar quality, posing an important threat to the sugarcane industry in Florida. Although Colletotrichum falcatum, the causal agent of red rot in Florida, was first reported in 1984 based on morphology, molecular and pathological data have remained limited, highlighting the critical need for comprehensive characterization. Thirteen isolates were obtained from three local sugarcane varieties in Belle Glade, Florida. Phylogenetic analyses of five genetic markers (ITS, ACT, TUB2, GAPDH, and CHS-1) confirmed all the strains as C. falcatum. In addition, the study documented the disease progression at the cellular level and assessed the pathogenicity of representative strains using the leaf sheath and whole-seedling inoculation methods. The varieties CP96-1252 and CP89-2143 showed greater host resistance. These findings represent the first report of C. falcatum causing red rot in southern Florida, offer valuable insights for/into red rot management, and provide a basis for future breeding programs to enhance sugarcane resistance to red rot disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper develops a high-precision yield fusion prediction model for the sugarcane industry in Chongzuo, Guangxi, based on the trend yield and meteorological yield using the long short-term memory (LSTM) model to cope with the multiple factors affecting sugarcane production. Decision support is provided to agricultural producers, policymakers, and supply chain managers so that they can plan resource allocation, market strategies, and policy directions more effectively. Methods: The paper modeled trend yield and weather yield separately to explore the complex relationship between the two in influencing sugarcane production. Trend yields were predicted using the exponential smoothing and multilayer perceptron (MLP) models, while meteorological yields were modeled using stepwise regression. The predicted yields were used again as input variables into the LSTM deep learning network to fit the nonlinear relationship between the two yields. Results: The results showed that (1) the fusion strategy of meteorological yield and MLP trend yield adopted by the model was superior to the fusion strategy of meteorological yield and exponentially smoothed trend yield, achieving a very low mean square error (MSE) of 0.011 and a goodness of fit as high as 0.979, which indicated that the model prediction was highly in agreement with the actual yield, confirming the validity of the method. (2) The prediction curve is basically consistent with the trend of actual sugarcane yield, which predicts that the sugarcane yield in Chongzuo, Guangxi, is expected to maintain a stable and small growth trend in the next eight years. (3) The fusion prediction model proposed in this study provides an accurate and practical solution for sugarcane yield prediction in Chongzuo, Guangxi, with the unique advantage of effectively analyzing and integrating the natural and socio-economic factors affecting the yield, which is of significant reference value for the prediction of sugarcane yield in the local area and even in similar ecoregions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study compares technological adoption in the sugarcane sectors of Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. While both states are major sugarcane producers, Maharashtra shows better adoption of agricultural technologies (agritech). Farmers commonly use precision farming, drip irrigation, and mechanized farming to enhance water efficiency, productivity, and labor management. Maharashtra also leads in the use of genetically-engineered sugarcane varieties and tissue culture, which promote disease-resistance and higher yields. In contrast, Uttar Pradesh has problems such as small landholdings and insufficient financial resources, which impede the implementation of new approaches such as biotechnology and integrated nutrient management. Farmers in Maharashtra have better access to government schemes such as Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), whereas Uttar Pradesh lags behind due to administrative barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Fiji, a South Pacific island nation relies on its longstanding sugarcane industry for economic growth. However, this industry is threatened by climate change (CC), endangering lives and the economy. Sugarcane production has been declining due to changing climate conditions for over a decade. Despite its small carbon (C) footprint, Fiji is actively engaged in global efforts, including leading COP23, to prevent severe CC scenarios. As part of this, Fiji aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE’s) by 2050 through the Paris Agreement. Scientists worldwide are exploring ways to reduce C emissions and boost soil C absorption. Sugarcane, Fiji's oldest and largest cultivated industry has an opportunity to mitigate CC and improve soil sustainability. This can be achieved with proper land use and management. Advanced techniques like plantstone C, residue retention, conservative soil tillage, crop rotation, sugarcane bagasse biochar, and nutrient management practices can increase C in Fiji's soils. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge and advancements that can be attained in the sugarcane industry. It covers various aspects, including the impact of CC in Fiji, the history of the sugar industry, changing industry status, market conditions, challenges, enhancement strategies, and the prospective potential for C sequestration and sustainability in the sugarcane sector. A key research priority is to establish optimal management practices that can increase C storage potential, building on a deeper understanding for greater sustainability in sugarcane production.

Sugarcane smut caused by Sporisorium scitamineum represents the most destructive disease in the sugarcane industry, causing host hormone disruption and producing a black whip-like sorus in the apex of the stalk. In this study, the gibberellin metabolic pathway was found to respond to S. scitamineum infection, and the contents of bioactive gibberellins were significantly reduced in the leaves of diseased plants. The gibberellin receptor gene ScGID1 was identified and significantly downregulated. ScGID1 localized in both the nucleus and cytoplasm and had the highest expression level in the leaves. Eight proteins that interact with ScGID1 were screened out using a yeast two-hybrid assay. Novel DELLA proteins named ScGAI1a and ScGA20ox2, key enzymes in GA biosynthesis, were both found to interact with ScGID1 in a gibberellin-independent manner. Transcription factor trapping with a yeast one-hybrid system identified 50 proteins that interacted with the promoter of ScGID1, among which ScS1FA and ScPLATZ inhibited ScGID1 transcription, while ScGDSL promoted transcription. Overexpression of ScGID1 in transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana plants could increase plant height and promote flowering. These results not only contribute to improving our understanding of the metabolic regulatory network of sugarcane gibberellin but also expand our knowledge of the interaction between sugarcane and pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xanthomonas albilineans (Xal) is a gram‐negative bacterial pathogen responsible for developing sugarcane leaf scald disease, which engenders significant economic losses within the sugarcane industry. In the current study, homologous recombination exchange was carried out to induce mutations within the virB/D4‐like type IV secretion system (T4SS) genes of Xal. The results revealed that the virB11‐deletion mutant (ΔvirB11) exhibited a loss in swimming and twitching motility. Application of transmission electron microscopy analysis further demonstrated that the ΔvirB11 failed to develop flagella formation and type IV pilus morphology and exhibited reduced swarming behaviour and virulence. However, these alterations had no discernible impact on bacterial growth. Comparative transcriptome analysis between the wild‐type Xal JG43 and the deletion‐mutant ΔvirB11 revealed 123 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 28 and 10 DEGs were notably associated with flagellar assembly and chemotaxis, respectively. In light of these findings, we postulate that virB11 plays an indispensable role in regulating the processes related to motility and chemotaxis in Xal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study evaluates the environmental impacts of electricity cogeneration from torrefied Dichrostachys cinerea (marabou) in a Cuban sugarcane industry, including electricity transmission and distribution (ET&D) through a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. Four stages were studied as most representative of marabou cogeneration (management and forest exploitation, torrefaction, cogeneration, and ET&D), identifying the most significant impacts. The environmental assessment was carried out employing OpenLCA software. Based on the ReCiPe life cycle impact assessment methodology, six impact categories were considered: fine particulate matter formation, fossil resource scarcity, freshwater ecotoxicity, freshwater eutrophication, global warming, and terrestrial ecotoxicity, represented in four stages. The results indicate that the management and forest exploitation stage was the main contributor in almost all the impact categories (ranging from 43.7 to 97.9% depending on the impact), attributed to diesel consumption and its related emissions in biomass harvesting and transportation. In addition, cable reuse (ET&D stage) was identified as a beneficial contributor (up to 49.6%) to the total impact. According to the sensitivity analysis, a truck-railway hybrid transportation scenario for marabou carriage significantly improves the fuel consumption rate compared to the other scenarios, reaching a reduction of up to 191% of the total environmental loads. Due to the relevance of the used technology on the global environment profile, the 72 possible combinations of the current cogeneration technologies (steam generator and electricity generator) in Cuba were evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the diversified utilization of the sugarcane industry, and sugarcane syrup, as a by-product of the sugarcane industry, is a good raw material for fermentation. Bringing sugarcane syrup into beer is conducive to the enrichment of the sugar industry, and it can improve the flavor of beer and make it more aromatic. This study determined the optimal fermentation process for beer. By analyzing the consumption rate of the carbon and nitrogen sources of raw materials, the nutrient utilization of yeast, and the causes of differences in flavor substances, the flavor composition and flavor stability of beer were determined by SPME-HS-GC-MS technology. The results showed that beer brewed with sugarcane syrup as an auxiliary raw material met the basic specifications of beer. The addition of sugarcane syrup to the wort base increased the utilization of amino acids by the yeast, and LS (lager with added cane syrup) increased the nine flavor compounds of the beer, which constituted the basic flavor of the beer, bringing new flavor compounds compared with the normal all-barley beer. Forced aging experiments showed that LS produced fewer aging compounds than OWBL. Various experiments have shown that it is feasible to ferment beer with sugarcane syrup instead of partial wort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aim through this paper to highlight the positive aspects of the production and consumption of renewable energies, particularly liquid biofuel. Apart from sugar as a highly prized food product and bioethanol as a green fuel, the energy from sugarcane is considered renewable because it is made from sugarcane bagasse. We will try to show the other face of the expansion in the production of biofuel from agricultural products and its negative effects, on the medium to long term from the economic, social and environmental axes. Apart from the difficult and inhumane conditions of the production of the first and second generation of Brazilian bioethanol, its mass production contributes to increasing the price of raw materials, in this case the price of sugar. However, the most striking, it is by adding the social and environmental cost to the economic cost; this can make the price of this bioenergy uncompetitive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world's most significant yield by production quantity is sugarcane. It is the primary source for sugar, ethanol, chipboards, paper, barrages, and confectionery. Many people are affiliated with sugarcane production and their products around the globe. The sugarcane industries make an agreement with farmers before the tillering phase of plants. Industries are keen on knowing the sugarcane field's pre-harvest estimation for planning their production and purchases. The proposed research contribution is twofold: by publishing our newly developed dataset, we also present a methodology to estimate the number of sugarcane plants in the tillering phase. The dataset has been obtained from sugarcane fields in the fall season. In this work, a modified architecture of Faster R-CNN with feature extraction using VGG-16 with Inception-v3 modules and sigmoid threshold function has been proposed for the detection and classification of sugarcane plants. Significantly promising results with 82.10% accuracy have been obtained with the proposed architecture, showing the viability of the developed methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Basic breeding efforts initiated at the USDA‐ARS in Houma, LA, in the late 1950s allowed Louisiana sugarcane breeders, once again, to cross with the wild germplasm of cultivated sugarcane, Sacharum spontaneum. 'LCP 85‐384' was the first success story from this effort and was quickly adopted by growers. It became clear that the cultivar would prove to be substantially impactful to the Louisiana sugar industry. Performing at unprecedented yields in ratoon crops, LCP 85‐384 changed how Louisiana growers would manage their crops. The variety proved to possess traits that fared well in the subtropical production zones of the state. Substantial stalk populations seemed to play a vital role in the necessary ratoon ability and consequent cold tolerance necessary for production in Louisiana. After significant disease pressure, the variety quickly declined in production acreage, but not in impact. It continued to provide sustained progress as a parent for years, contributing to most modern commercial cultivars in Louisiana. Today, LCP 85‐384 and its progeny are used in breeding and genetic research to usher in the next era of progress in the Louisiana sugar industry. Meanwhile, through cooperative efforts of breeding programs around the world, it is making its mark on the sugarcane industries of Argentina in much the same way as it did in Louisiana. In the future, it is expected that the progress made in the breeding program will continue by building upon the gains achieved from LCP 85‐384 and its progeny for the sustained success of the Louisiana sugarcane industry. Core Ideas: LCP 85‐384 has shaped the Louisiana sugar industry in ways that are unprecedented.Combined increases in cane yield, harvesting efficiency, and stand longevity boosted sugar yield by about 22%.Its release coincided with the widespread adoption of mechanical combine harvesters which improved harvesting efficiency.Crossing with LCP 85‐384 has led to the release of 13 cultivars in Louisiana.In Argentina, it received wide adoption as a cultivar and is the parent of a newly released cultivar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'CP 15‐2516' (Reg. no. CV‐215, PI 703029) sugarcane cultivar, a complex hybrid of Saccharum spp., was developed jointly by USDA‐ARS, the University of Florida, and the Florida Sugar Cane League. CP 15‐2516 was released in June 2022 for commercial cultivation on the Florida organic (muck) soils due to its high cane and sucrose yields, commercial recoverable sucrose (CRS), and economic index (EI). CP 15‐2516 originated from CPX13‐1630, a cross between a female parent (CP 95‐1039) and a male parent ('CP 06‐2400'). CP 15‐2516 is resistant to brown rust, orange rust, and Sugarcane mosaic virus strain E. CP 15‐2516 harbors the Bru1 marker associated with brown rust resistance. CP 15‐2516 is moderately resistant to leaf scald and ratoon stunt disease, smut, and yellow leaf. Based on the results of three harvest cycles over five locations in Stage 4 on muck soils, cane and sucrose yields of CP 15‐2516 were 10.48% (181.31 Mg ha−1) and 11.49% (18.62 Mg ha−1) respectively, higher (P <.05) than those of the reference cultivar 'CP 96‐1252'. Compared with CP 96‐1252, the EI of CP 15‐2516 was significantly (P <.05) higher by 15% (3233 ha−1). The mean cane fiber content of CP 15‐2516 was 138.7 kg Mg−1 and was 1% to 8% higher than the reference cultivars ('CP 00‐1101', CP 96‐1252, and 'CPCL 05‐1201'). CP 15‐2516 flowers intermittently during January in Florida's climate. CP 15‐2516 has a better freeze tolerance than commercial reference cultivars CP 00‐1101 and CP 96‐1252. CP 15‐2516 is expected to positively contribute to the profitability and sustainability of the Florida sugarcane industry. Core Ideas: CP 15‐2516 sugarcane cultivar was released for commercial production on organic soils in Florida.Sucrose and cane yields of CP 15‐2516 were equivalent to or higher than those of reference cultivars.CP 15‐2516 was resistant and moderately resistant to economically significant diseases.CP 15‐2516 showed better cold tolerance than reference cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugarcane smut, caused by the fungal pathogen Sporisorium scitamineum, is a prominent threat to the sugarcane industry. The development of smut resistant varieties is the ultimate solution for controlling this disease, due to the lack of other efficient control methods. Artificial inoculation method is used to evaluate the virulence differentiation of pathogens. The mostly used artificial inoculation methods are soaking of the seed canes in the teliospore solution and injection of teliospores or haploid sporidia into the sugarcane sprouts. However, due to the infection nature of the pathogen that invades the sugarcane plant through meristem tissue of the sprout or shoot, the rate of successful infection is often low and fluctuated, resulting in low confidence of the assays. We recently reported a rapid and high-throughput inoculation method called plantlet soaking by using tissue culture-derived sugarcane plantlets as the test plants. Here, we compare different inoculation methods and report the characterization of parameters that may affect the sensitivity and efficiency of the plantlet soaking technique. The results showed that sugarcane plantlets were highly vulnerable to infection, even with the inoculum density at 6.0 × 105 basidial spores/ml, and this method could be applied to all varieties tested. Notably, varieties showing high smut resistance in the field exhibited high susceptibility when inoculated with the plantlet soaking method, suggesting that the plantlet soaking method is a good complement to the traditional methods for screening germplasms with internal resistance. In addition, this method could also be used to monitor the variation of cellular virulence of the smut pathogen strains in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A work-related danger is normally a circumstance that can possibly harm labourers. Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) was enacted to help all employers and their workers decrease job accidents, injuries, and medical illnesses. In Pakistan, no recent regional study had focused on the health issues of labourers in sugar industries, so the present study focused on the health issues being faced by the labourers in sugar industries of Dera Ismail Khan. Objective: To assess the workplace hazards and medical problems related to sugar industry workers. Study type, settings & duration: A Descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in sugar industries of D.I. Khan from April to September 2023. Methodology: Data was collected through a structured questionnaire and work place health and safety questionnaire, from 265 individuals working in different departments of Chashma and Meerun Sugar Industry of Dera Ismail Khan. A simple random sampling technique was used for sample selection. Results: Two sugarcane industries of the location were approached, and data was collected from n=265 workers working in different units of sugar mills. The maximum working time, observed was 8 hours (25.5%) and 12 hours (74.5%). Labourers and Labourers in-charge both were made indulged in the study and data was collected from both of them. 89% of the respondents were suffering from the musculoskeletal knee problems, 67% from shoulder problems, 84% from lower back pain and 45% suffering from arm problems respectively. Conclusion: It can be concluded from the present study that the majority of the respondents were suffering from the musculoskeletal problems like knee problems, shoulder and arm problems due to prolonged physical duty hours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the complex dynamics of Fiji's sugarcane industry, shedding light on the challenges it faces and the implications for agricultural system resilience and sustainability. The primary aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between climatic and non-climatic stressors and farmers' decisions to abandon sugarcane farming. A total of 900 farmers were surveyed, which corresponds to approximately 7.5% of the sugarcane farming population in the country. Farmers were sampled using a stratified disproportional random sampling technique, by surveying 300 farmers from each of the three primary sugarcane mill regions in Fiji (Labasa, Lautoka, and Rarawai). Results depict an aging farming population with small land holdings, and limited income and agricultural diversification. While only 4% of farmers are currently considering abandoning sugarcane farming, a further 17.9% are uncertain about their future in the industry. The majority of farmers have been impacted by climate hazards, primarily tropical cyclones and floods, but the degree to which these hazards have affected livelihoods has had an effect on farmers' willingness to remain in the industry and on the extent to which they implement reactive or anticipatory responses to hazards. The study highlights the need for coordinated efforts to support sustainable intensification and planned adaptation, especially in the face of climate-induced vulnerabilities, this should be a priority as the sector continues to navigate sustainability issues. Additionally, it underscores the importance of transforming the industry to address both climatic and non-climatic stressors. Ultimately, this research offers valuable insights into the multifaceted issues confronting Fiji's sugarcane sector, and the broader agricultural systems it represents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugarcane industry is a pivotal force in agricultural perspective. It is essential to promote process innovations in sugarcane planting for sustainable growth and competition. This study was conducted to analyze the effective key factors on process -based innovations in sugarcane industry. It is applicable from objective aspect and the required data was collected through qualitative method and meta-synthesis. Finally, 33 related articles were identified via meta-synthesis. Validity of the research was confirmed based on the inclusion criteria, holding sessions with members of the research team, the use of an expert and examination of the whole process for theoretical consensus. Reliability was also determined via Critical Appraisal Skills Program. The effective dimensions and components on process -based innovations in sugarcane industry include four dimensions, namely steps of innovation in sugarcane production cycle that have been identified in the form of 45 components. The dimensions are "innovation in the process of planting", "innovation in the process of growing", "innovation in the process of harvesting" and "innovation in the process of processing". This study provides a map to understand the multi-faceted perspective of process-based innovation in sugarcane industry. Through classification of the components in vital stages, stakeholders achieve insight on transformational strategies and reinforce sustainable methods which are technologically advanced in sugarcane planting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to identify factors of employer brand in Sugarcane Industries in Khuzestan province and proposing its model via thematic analysis. In this regard, the present study has been conducted through qualitative approach via Braun & Clarke's thematic analysis. It is applicable from objective aspect. For data collection, 18 experts including professors, senior managers and faculty professors were being interviewed using semi-structured interview through purposive sampling. Then, the information extracted from the texts and interviews were classified and analyzed using thematic analysis. Reliability was examined and confirmed by means of two methods, i.e. inter-coder agreement procedure and test-retest reliability. To calculate degree of agreement, Cohen's kappa coefficient in SPSS software was employed that was obtained equal to 0.75 and showed acceptable reliability. Also, to ensure validity of the research, the findings were confirmed by three academic experts besides the use of sensitivity strategy of the researcher in the research process. The results revealed classification of one global theme including employer brand, six organized themes including economic, functional, social, developmental, psychological and political factors, and 18 basic themes. It can be stated that employer brand is a key success factor in the current world. Sugarcane Industries in Khuzestan province has enhanced its employer brand through eliminating the existing challenges and implementing the suggested strategies and has become an ideal employer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) offers remarkable opportunities for transforming sugarcane agriculture, promising significant improvements in crop cultivation, processing, and sustainability. This short communication delineates GAI's prospective applications in the sugar industry, emphasizing tangible benefits and outlining the necessary steps toward integrating this innovative technology effectively. Implementing GAI, while challenging, primarily due to the required investment, infrastructure development, data privacy concerns, and workforce training, is crucial for optimizing crop yield, sustainability, and enhancing bioethanol production from sugarcane. Recognizing and addressing these challenges through multi-stakeholder collaboration, policy formulation, and robust data security measures is fundamental, as is the need for ongoing research and development in applying GAI to the sugar industry to realize global sustainability goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human capital development is considered the primary source of knowledge and skills in the innovation process. Despite this, there is evidence of a lack of technical and managerial knowledge among emerging sugarcane farmers who are beneficiaries of South Africa's land reform programme, thus, limiting their full potential in terms of innovation and productivity which is detrimental to their competitiveness. This paper employs the Crépon, Duguet, and Mairesse (CDM) approach, correcting for endogeneity problems, to estimate the causal impact of on-the-job training expenditure, used as a proxy for human capital development, on innovation, and innovation on farm productivity. It is based on a case study of 35 emerging sugarcane farmers in the KwaZulu-Natal north coast, South Africa. The results from the CDM model confirm the causal relationships between human capital (on-the-job training) and the innovation behaviour of the farmers, which positively impact the farm's productivity. This result underscores the relevance of human capital development in boosting innovation and productivity in the agricultural sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In-field quality prediction in agricultural products is mainly based on near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR). However, initiatives applied to sugarcane quality are only observed under laboratory-controlled conditions. This study proposed a framework for NIR spectroscopy sensing to measure sugarcane quality during a real harvest operation. A platform was built to support the system composed of the NIR sensor and external lighting on the elevator of a sugarcane harvester. Real-time data were acquired in commercial fields. Georeferenced samples were collected for calibration, validation, and adjustment of the multivariate models by partial least squares (PLS) regression. In addition, subsamples of defibrated cane were NIR-acquired for the development of calibration transfer models by piecewise direct standardization (PDS). The method allowed the adjustment of the spectra collected in real time to predict the quality properties of soluble solids content (Brix), apparent sucrose in juice (Pol), fiber, cane Pol, and total recoverable sugar (TRS). The results of the relative mean square error of prediction (RRMSEP) were from 1.80 to 2.14%, and the ratio of interquartile performance (RPIQ) was from 1.79 to 2.46. The PLS-PDS models were applied to data acquired in real-time, allowing estimation of quality properties and identification of the existence of spatial variability in quality. The results showed that it is possible to monitor the spatial variability of quality properties in sugarcane in the field. Future studies with a broader range of quality attribute values and the evaluation of different configurations for sensing devices, calibration methods, and data processing are needed. The findings of this research will enable a valuable spatial information layer for the sugarcane industry, whether for agronomic decision-making, industrial operational planning, or financial management between sugar mills and suppliers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The valorization of byproducts from the sugarcane industry represents a potential alternative method with a low energy cost for the production of metabolites that are of commercial and industrial interest. The production of exopolysaccharides (EPSs) was carried out using the yeast Suhomyces kilbournensis isolated from agro-industrial sugarcane, and the products and byproducts of this agro-industrial sugarcane were used as carbon sources for their recovery. The effect of pH, temperature, and carbon and nitrogen sources and their concentration in EPS production by submerged fermentation (SmF) was studied in 170 mL glass containers of uniform geometry at 30 °C with an initial pH of 6.5. The resulting EPSs were characterized with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The results showed that the highest EPS production yields were 4.26 and 44.33 g/L after 6 h of fermentation using sucrose and molasses as carbon sources, respectively. Finally, an FT-IR analysis of the EPSs produced by S. kilbournensis corresponded to levan, corroborating its origin. It is important to mention that this is the first work that reports the production of levan using this yeast. This is relevant because, currently, most studies are focused on the use of recombinant and genetically modified microorganisms; in this scenario, Suhomyces kilbournensis is a native yeast isolated from the sugar production process, giving it a great advantage in the incorporation of carbon sources into their metabolic processes in order to produce levan sucrose, which uses fructose to polymerize levan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugarcane is an annual or perennial persistent rooted tropical and subtropical herb that grows in tropical and subtropical regions. As China's production ranks among the world's leading, sugarcane industry is an important part of agricultural economy in China. As the largest sugarcane production center in China, Guangxi is one of the most suitable areas for sugarcane cultivation in China and even in the world. Sugarcane industry, as an agricultural advantageous industry in Guangxi, not only has a significant image to the national economy of the region, but also is closely related to the issue of security of national sugar supply. Continuous cropping of sugarcane is very common in Guangxi, which is very helpful for the concentration selection of sugarcane samples. The wide application of satellite remote sensing monitoring technology has become an indispensable means of natural resources monitoring. Using optical satellite remote sensing image to identify and extract sugarcane planting areas is of great significance to quickly and conveniently grasp the information of sugarcane distribution and yield. In this paper, the precision of sugarcane extraction from GF1 and GF2 satellite images is analyzed by using deeplab V3 + model, the effect of optical remote sensing images with different resolution on sugarcane extraction accuracy was studied to provide better data support for dynamic monitoring of sugarcane planting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of increased organic loading rate (OLR) on H 2 production and soluble metabolites in a thermophilic anaerobic fluidized bed reactor (AFBR-AT) at 55 °C were evaluated by the fermentation of vinasse and molasses from sugarcane (at a ratio of 1:1). The OLR varied between 30 and 135 kg COD.m−3.d−1, while the hydraulic retention time (HRT) was fixed at 4 h, and the initial co-substrate concentration varied between 5 and 22.5 g COD.L−1. The thermophilic acidogenic reactor showed a maximum hydrogen yield (HY) (2.49 mmol H 2.g−1COD app) at an OLR of 30 kg COD.m−3.d−1 and a higher hydrogen production rate (HPR) (2.8 L H 2.L−1.d−1) at an OLR of 45 kg COD.m−3.d−1. Increasing the OLR negatively influenced H 2 production. The results showed an increase in ethanol (EtOH) concentrations of up to 47.3 times and lactic acid (HLa) concentrations of up to 15.2 times when comparing OLRs of 30 and 135 kg COD.m−3.d−1, indicating changes in metabolic pathways for acid formation at organic loads ≥90 kg COD.m−3.d−1. Thermoanaerobacterium was the bacteria with higher relative abundance and was directly involved in H 2 production, while Lactobacillus was mainly involved in HLa production in higher OLR, decreasing H 2 production instead. Besides that, higher OLRs were favorable for sulfidogenesis and the development of sulfate-reducing bacteria, such as Desulfobacterota, due to the higher COD/sulfate ratio in OLR 135 kg COD.m−3.d−1. According to the metabolic inference in this condition, the enzyme activity of sulfite reductase and sulfite dehydrogenase may have occurred, consuming H+, thereby reducing H 2 production. [Display omitted] • Co-fermentation of sugarcane vinasse and molasses was suitable to obtain H 2. • Organic loading rates (OLR) below 60 kg COD.m−3.d−1 led to higher H 2 production. • A higher H 2 yield of 2.5 mmol. gCOD−1 add was observed at 30 kg COD.m−3.d−1. • OLR >60 kg COD.m−3.d−1 led to lactate production and hydrogenesis inhibition. • Sulfite reductase and dehydrogenase enzymes were inferred at OLR >90 kg COD.m−3.d−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 1970s, Brazil has carried out the most successful world program of commercial biomass for use and production of energy by stimulating its sugarcane industry and promoting the large-scale production of ethanol nationwide in response to the first oil shock. Today, the technologies behind ethanol production are well established. Brazil is the world's largest sugarcane supplier, producing its ethanol at a competitive price. If other sugarcane producing countries decided to join Brazil's move toward the production of this biofuel, what impacts might there be for each country's economy and employment? This is what we investigate in this paper. Prime candidates for ethanol production include Australia, China, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, and the United States of America. We evaluated the potential socioeconomic impacts of developing this promising industry by using an input–output approach. More specifically, we adapted the Brazilian method of producing ethanol to these countries' distinct economies. We augmented the input–output table of each country, inserting a new ethanol industry based on the Brazilian ethanol production model. We also augmented their new ethanol industry's sales following a hypothetical hydrous and anhydrous ethanol consumption scenario. Thereafter, we reconcile the national accounts, concluding our analysis by quantifying and comparing the different net effects of this new industry for each of the assessed countries for the year of 2009. We demonstrate which industries would be expected to be positively or negatively impacted by this substitution in each country; and find that not all of the countries we assessed would experience positive socioeconomic results from emulating Brazil's production of ethanol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sugar industry, which relates to people's livelihood, is strategic and fundamental in the development of agricultural economy. In China, sugar derived from sugarcane accounts for approximately 85% of total sugar production. Mechanization is the "flower" of sugarcane industry. As the saying goes "when there are blooming flowers, there will be sweet honey." However, due to limitations in land resources, technology, equipment, organization, and management, mechanization throughout the sugarcane production process has not yet brought about the economic benefits that a mechanized system should provide and has not reached an ideal yield through the integration of agricultural machinery and agronomic practice. This paper briefly describes how to initiate the mechanization of Chinese sugarcane production to promote the sound, healthy, and rapid development of the sugarcane industry, and how to ultimately achieve the transformation of sugarcane breeding in China and the modernization of the sugarcane industry from three perspectives, namely, requirements of mechanized production for sugarcane varieties, breeding strategies for selecting new sugarcane varieties suitable for mechanized production, and screening for sugarcane varieties that are suitable for mechanization and diversification in variety distribution or arrangement in China. We also highlight the current challenges surrounding this topic and look forward to its bright prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the beginning of the 21st century, the Brazilian sugarcane sector underwent two diametrically distinct phases. The first was characterized by the accelerated expansion of the activity (notably between 2003 and 2010) and the second is marked by the deceleration and even retraction (2011 to 2020). This article aims to discuss the mains conjunctural and technical-structural factors that led to the recent crisis of the sugarcane industry in Brazil, resulting in a wave of cases of judicial recovery and plant failures. From the survey and bibliographic systematization, journalistic reports and statistical data, the results of the study show that the immediate consequences of the 2007-2008 international financial and economic crisis on international credit, exchange rates and the fall in commodity prices on value exchanges; difficulties in the Brazilian domestic market and the challenges arising from the productive restructuring of the sugar-energy industry culminated in a decrease in the pace of investments and in the critical financial situation of several national and transnational groups, compromising the continuity of the productive operations of numerous plants in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to discuss the several financialization strategies used by sugarcane industry in Brazil, such as banking credit acquisitions, issuance of debt securities, IPO on the stock exchange and speculation in the commodities market. In recent years, agents of the sugarcane sector have been increasingly to access different ways of capitalization to inflate their assets and make productive and speculative investments. The context is part of the hegemony of financial capital over the political economy of the market and large firms, resulting in growing influence on corporate decisions. Thus, it is observed that globalized agribusiness is one of the economic activities that has been having narrow relations with the financial agents to expand the process of capital accumulation, increasing even more the investors' wealth levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugarcane (Saccharum hybrid) is an important cash crop grown in tropical and subtropical countries. Ratoon stunting disease (RSD), caused by a xylem-inhabiting bacterium, Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli (Lxx) is one of the most economically significant diseases globally. RSD results in severe yield losses because its highly contagious nature and lack of visually identifiable symptoms make it harder to devise an effective management strategy. The efficacy of current management practices is hindered by implementation difficulties caused by lack of resources, high cost, and difficulties in monitoring. Rapid detection of the causal pathogen in vegetative planting material is crucial for sugarcane growers to manage this disease. Several microscopic, serological, and molecular-based methods have been developed and used for detecting the RSD pathogen. Although these methods have been used across the sugarcane industry worldwide to diagnose Lxx, some lack reliability or specificity, are expensive and time-consuming to apply, and most of all, are not suitable for on-farm diagnosis. In recent decades, there has been significant progress in the development of integrated isothermal amplification-based microdevices for accurate human and plant pathogen detection. There is a significant opportunity to develop a novel diagnostic method that integrates nanobiosensing with isothermal amplification within a microdevice format for accurate Lxx detection. In this review, we summarize (i) the historical background and current knowledge of sugarcane ratoon stunting disease, including some aspects related to transmission, pathosystem, and management practices; and (ii) the drawbacks of current diagnostic methods and the potential for application of advanced diagnostics to improve disease management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bagasse ash (BA) is a non-environmental waste product gathered from sugarcane manufacturing industries. As a result of the large accumulation and shortage of disposal yards, handling BA has become an immediate challenge. This paper presents studies on the Atterberg limit, shrinkage index, linear shrinkage after 7 days of curing, compaction, and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests (following 7 days of curing) of BA and lime-BA assorted expansive soil (ES) by differing BA content from 0 to 18% at an interval of 3% and adding 4% lime by dry weight of ES. The outcomes disclosed that the inclusion of BA and lime beneficially controls the shrinkage attribute. According to the research, changes in moisture-density correlations resulted in reduced maximum dry densities (MDD) and greater optimal moisture content (OMC). The volume change characteristic of ES can be mitigated by mixing BA and lime. In addition, test findings showed that both BA and lime-BA enhanced axial stress while reducing axial strain. As a result, a substance that was once thought to be a misery to the environment and society has become a benefit to the civil engineering industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermal treatment the sugarcane juice undergoes during its processing alters the medium's chemical composition through the so-called Maillard reactions and its products, which can affect the alcohol-producing yeast's physiology in steps following the processing. This study aims to describe and characterize the reactivity of the primary amino acids present in sugarcane with sucrose, as well as demonstrate the physiological effects of the reaction's products on the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The main amino acids in sugarcane (glutamine, asparagine, and aspartic acid) were chosen to be reacted with sucrose under similar conditions to the industrial sugarcane processing (pH 5 and temperature 100–120 °C). The physiological effect of Maillard and caramelization reaction on the S. cerevisiae CEN.PK-122 and PE-2 strains were tested in microplate experiments using a modified mineral media containing both the reacted and unreacted amino acid-sucrose systems and four modified synthetic molasses media. The results have shown that the presence of any amino acids drastically increases product formation. Furthermore, among the amino acids, aspartic acid was the most reactive. Meanwhile, asparagine and glutamine had similar results. In S. cerevisiae physiology, aspartic acid had the most significant effect on culture growth by reducing the maximum specific growth rate and optical density. The increase in the Maillard product concentration for synthetic molasses also evidenced the inhibitory effect on yeast growth compared to media in the absence of these products. We conclude that this initial investigation clarifies the inhibitory effect of the Maillard products on yeast physiology. [Display omitted] • Sugarcane-based industrial conditions were applied to simulate the reactions that might occur during sugarcane juice treatment. • The temperature and time seem to impact product formation significantly. • Aspartic acid-sucrose systems had the most pronounced effect on growth of industrial and laboratory S. cerevisiae strains. • The effect of Maillard products was evidenced in more complex synthetic molasses media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The contamination and spoilage of heat-treated fruit juices by heat-resistant mold ascospores present significant challenges to the food industry. Understanding effective strategies to mitigate this contamination is vital for ensuring the shelf-life and microbial safety of heat-treated fruit juices. This study investigated the thermal resistance of ascospores from different heat-resistant mold species, including Aspergillus laciniosus, A. chevalieri, A. denticulatus, A. siamensis, Hamigera pallida, and Talaromyces macrosporus, isolated from pineapple and sugarcane field soils. Ascospores inactivation kinetics in pineapple juice under heat treatment (75–97 °C) were analyzed using log-linear and Weibull models. Among these species, A. laciniosus displayed the highest heat resistance (δ-value: 104.59 min at 85 °C), while A. siamensis exhibited the lowest (δ-value: 3.39 min at 80 °C). Furthermore, A. laciniosus, the most heat-resistant species, showed notable tolerance to sanitizers. The most effective inactivation was achieved using 1.0% (w/v) sodium hypochlorite for 15 min. Chlorine dioxide, however, was generally ineffective and even activated dormant ascospores in some cases. The combination of hot water (65 °C for 5 min) with sanitizer increased ascospore reduction in most species but did not achieve the 3-log reduction required by the European Standard N13697. This study revealed a correlation between ascospore resistance to heat and chlorine dioxide, offering significant findings for practical inactivation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global sugarcane industry is under threat due to low international prices and oversupply. This requires new revenue opportunities through a diversification strategy. The economic competitiveness of small‐scale, decentralized biorefineries to produce short‐chain fructooligosaccharides (scFOS) and/or ethanol, both valuable products with growing market applications, in comparison to large‐scale, centralized facilities annexed to existing sugarcane mills, was therefore considered. The economic feasibility of three potential scenarios was investigated using AspenPlus process simulations of small‐ and large‐scale facilities. In Scenario 1 only scFOS was produced. In Scenario 2 only ethanol was produced, and in Scenario 3 scFOS and ethanol were co‐produced. The small‐scale implementation of Scenarios 1 and 3 was economically feasible, with minimum selling prices (MSPs) below market prices. However, in all scenarios the large‐scale implementation of technologies in facilities annexed to an existing sugar mill improved economic viability, despite efforts to minimize the disadvantages of small‐scale facilities and their capital costs through the selection of simplified process technologies and decentralized processing. Despite this, the small‐scale production of scFOS is the preferred investment option for scFOS production due to the very high scFOS production rates of the large‐scale scenarios, which could flood the market. Processing of freshly harvested sugarcane in decentralized, small‐scale facilities increased the feedstock cost per unit of sugar, in comparison with the use of molasses obtained by annexation to an existing sugar mill. Simplified sugarcane processing to ethanol also lowered the product yield and increased capital costs. Further improvements in process technology design and performance for small‐scale facilities are required to make these financially competitive with large‐scale facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Furrow irrigation is one of the most common and suitable methods of surface irrigation that is used in the fields of Mirzakochek Khan Sugarcane Company in the southwest of Khuzestan. Considering the problems that sugarcane companies have recently had due to the water resources scarcity, increasing the efficiency of surface irrigation systems with the aim of reducing water supply from Karun River is necessary. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of slope, furrow length and discharge on water application (Ea) and storage efficiencies (Es) as split-split plots and randomized complete blocks design with three replications from August 2018 to September 2019 in one of the farms of Mirza Kochakh Khan Company. This study was carried out with three treatments, each at three levels, including: slope of 0.02, 0.04 and 0.06%, length of 150, 200 and 250 meters and flow rate of 2, 2.5 and 3 l/s. Ea was obtained between 64.7% and 77.4% and Es between 65.2% and 100%. The highest Ea was corresponded to a slope of 0.04%, a flow rate of 2 l/s and a length of 250 meters. The highest Es was corresponded to the slopes of 0.04 and 0.06%, flow rate of 2 l/s and the length of 250 meters. Consequently, the slope of 0.04%, the flow rate of 2 l/s and the length of 250 meters are sujestted for furrow irrigation system of the sugarcane lands in the south of Ahvaz due to the optimal value of Ea and Es. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]