The Sugar Cane Industry

The Sugar Cane Industry : 

The Sugar Cane Industry Grace Choong Niamh Deighan Clare Exinger Mel Spry

Introduction to sugar cane : 

Introduction to sugar cane The sugar cane industry is one of Australia’s primary sectors, generating an annual revenue of over $1.5 billion, including $1.2 billion in exports. Australia is a low-cost producer and major exporter, producing more than 4.75 million tonnes of sugar annually. Sugar cane is a member of the grass family that grows up to four metres high.

USES : 

USES Most sugar cane is refined into brown, raw, or white sugar. Molasses and golden syrup are made from extracts of sugar cane, as are many alcoholic drinks such as rum and tequila. Ethanol (the alcoholic component in alcohol) is made from sugar cane. The fibrous residue from sugar cane can be burnt for fuel. Sugar cane can also be eaten as is.

Growing conditions : 

Growing conditions Sugar cane needs fertile soil, and grows best in the following conditions: Strong sunlight; Water; 150-300 cm per year; Fertile, well-drained soil; Locations with these conditions can be found predominantly on the coast of Queensland, and also in Northern New South Wales and the Ord region of Western Australia. The coast of Queensland Ord Region of Western Australia

EMPLOYMENT : 

EMPLOYMENT The Australian sugarcane industry creates many employment opportunities, employing around 12,500 people. This includes around 5000 cane farmers, spread over around 4500 properties. L-R: Sugar cane being cut and transported.

Sugar exports : 

Sugar exports Over 80% of Australia’s sugar is exported overseas. Usually it is exported after being processed into raw sugar (a type of light brown coarse sugar containing the natural molasses present in sugarcane). - The majority of this goes to countries such as Japan, China, Korea, Malaysia, and other East Asian countries. Raw sugar

MARKETS FOR AUSTRALIAN SUGAR : 

MARKETS FOR AUSTRALIAN SUGAR Canada China Chinese Taipei Egypt Japan Malaysia New Zealand South Korea United States Other 15% 3% 17% 5% 19% 17% 2% 4% 1% 18% Markets for Australian Sugar 1998

ABOUT CANE : 

ABOUT CANE Sugar cane is grown using parts of a mature stalk. Sugar cane takes from 9-16 months to mature. All sugar cane in Australia is harvested using machinery, and has been since the late 70’s. Harvest usually begins in June and ends in December. Once sugarcane has been harvested it must be transported to a sugar mill within 16 hours of being cut, or it will spoil. Machinery for harvesting cane A sugar cane harvest

issues : 

issues The sugar cane industry has faced many issues. These include: Pests (such as the cane toad); Dependence on Government assistance; Drought; Diseases (such as fungal rot and mildew). A cane toad Sugar Cane affected with the disease ‘Eye Spot’.

THE ENVIRONMENT : 

THE ENVIRONMENT Sugar cane farmers are working hard to keep their crops from having a negative effect on the environment. The following practices have become commonplace: Rotation Cropping (in which a complementary crop is planted on a rotational basis, to renew nutrients in the soil) Wider Spacing (reduces travel time and therefore fuel) An example of wider spacing

WATER ISSUES : 

WATER ISSUES Many canegrowers rely on irrigated water to grow their crops. 55% of cane farms are irrigated (meaning they rely on water other than rainfall). Canegrowers use around 1.2 million megalitres of water per year; around 350 megalitres per grower. In an effort to save water the government has raised the price of irrigated water, causing potential trouble to many growers. An irrigated crop of sugar cane

SUGAR PRICES : 

SUGAR PRICES As shown on this graph, the average price of sugar cane has changed in recent years.

SUGAR CANE AND THE GREAT BARRIER REEF : 

SUGAR CANE AND THE GREAT BARRIER REEF Because of large-scale cane farming in Northern Queensland, areas of the reef are suffering from an excess of runoff nutrients from fertilizers used to grow the crop. One way to save damage to the reef is to allow natural vegetation such as mangroves to regrow along river banks, which controls dangerous runoff. A dying section of the Great Barrier Reef

A video : 

A video

BIBLIOGRAPHY : 

BIBLIOGRAPHY "Sugar Cane Farming Is Killing the Great Barrier Reef." ZGeek. 1 June 2007. [Online] Available: http://www.zgeek.com/showthread.php/67881-Sugar-cane-farming-is-killing-the-Great-Barrier-Reef. 8/5/10  CANEGROWERS. [Online] Available: http://www.canegrowers.com.au. 6/5/10 "Australian Primary Industries - Sugar Cane." Rochedale State School. [Online] Available: http://www.rochedalss.eq.edu.au/sugar.htm. 7/5/10 "Sugarcane." Wikipedia. [Online] Available: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugarcane. 7/5/10