ASSCT CONFERENCE 2022

Future-proofing a resilient industry

More than 300 delegates attended the 43rd annual conference of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists (ASSCT) in April at the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre to explore new initiatives aimed at future-proofing the industry.

The conference provided the opportunity to learn about the latest research trails and innovations, to listen to presentations and papers from the industry, as well as the chance to network with colleagues and industry professionals.

Bioproducts or bio-based products - materials, chemicals and energy derived from renewable biological resources like sugarcane and these commodities - were at the forefront of the opening ceremony speeches.

Mackay’s Mayor Greg Williamson warmly welcomed participants as he officially opened the conference, speaking extensively of the historical and important significance that the Mackay region has played, and continues to play, within the sugar industry.

Consumer behaviour is changing and driving a stronger interest in biodiverse commodities.

The Mayor discussed the current pilots and facilities within the region, including the Greater Whitsunday Alliance and the Mackay Future Foods BioHub. He called for an increase in awareness of the need for funding dollars to support the potential manufacturing opportunities that are arising within the region.

Jannik Olejas, CEO of Mackay Sugar Ltd, provided his interpretation of this year’s theme “Resilience is ‘doing things differently’ while ‘doing something different’ is potentially future proofing,” he said.

CANEGROWERS' Chris Gillitt and Burn Ashburner with SRA's Dylan Wedel (centre)

He pointed out that there were many bio products being created and tested within the lab facilities, with less products being developed within the pilots in the area and even fewer commodities that reach a commercially viable stage.

Mr Olejas said that while technology is ready and consumer behaviour is changing and driving a stronger interest in biodiverse commodities, the challenge remains that even though the global short-term situation is good, the industry remains beholden as a commodity supplier subject to price pressures.

Dr Graham Bonnett is currently the interim leader of the Drought Resilience Mission for CSIRO and as a keynote speaker provided some insight into the Climate Services for Agricultural (CSA) tool.

Currently a prototype under development, it is designed to help Australian farmers to adapt to climate variability and related trends and thereby increase the viability of their businesses.

The tool is available online at the CSA website https://climateservicesforag. indraweb.io and is an initiative of the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund. Dr Bonnet encouraged users to provide feedback about how the tool can be even more useful to growers.

The demand for sustainable sourced products is growing, which could offer benefits to growers in the shorter term.

CANEGROWERS Senior Manager Membership and Engagement, Matt Kealley, presented a paper entitled 'Emerging opportunities for Australian sugar using blockchain technology'.

CANEGROWERS has been investigating how to use blockchain technology designed for the Queensland sugar industry to show traceability of sugarcane accredited by the Smartcane BMP program.

CANEGROWERS Proserpine director Tony Large with Membership Engagement Manager Matt Kealley

The pilot successfully traced Smartcane BMP sugarcane delivered to the mill and proved the traceability of products using the KPMG Origins platform. While the research is still ongoing, feedback from growers, mills and the marketer on the platform were positive, and suggestions of functionality and value creation were offered.

“The application of blockchain technology offers improved traceability and has the potential to secure market access, strengthen the industry against global competition and identify means of improving value for growers,” Mr Kealley said.

“The demand for sustainable sourced products is growing, which could offer benefits to growers in the shorter term.”

The conference enjoyed a good turnout of engineering and milling professionals with strong support from exhibitors and sponsors, but there were limited incentives for growers to attend with comparatively fewer technical papers pertinent to the agricultural sector.

The few growers that did attend ASSCT took every opportunity to network and gain insight from the papers of interest. Unfortunately wet weather set in for the conference and the proposed field trip to SRA and grower visits had to be cancelled, which was disappointing for the growers.

“Overall the optimism for future proofing the industry at the ASSCT conference was positive with the delegates keen to be active contributors, but for growers to be present and involved in these discussions more agricultural based content for the conference is needed to truly reflect an inclusive and resilient industry,” Mr Kealley said.

CANEGROWERS Herbert River directors Leah Russo and Zenan Reinaudo with office manager Frank Scardamaglia