A sugarcane workshop co-hosted by JIRCAS and the Food and Fertilizer Technology Center for Asia and the Pacific (FFTC) will be held on September 15, Thursday. In today's Pick Up, we will introduce some of the sugarcane varieties that JIRCAS has developed with collaborating research institutes.
 
JIRCAS has jointly bred and registered the sugarcane variety "TPJ04-768" with the Department of Agriculture, Thailand.
https://www.jircas.go.jp/ja/release/2015/press04
https://www.jircas.go.jp/en/publication/research_results/2015_b10

In addition, JIRCAS has jointly bred and registered the sugarcane variety "Harunoogi" with the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO).
https://www.jircas.go.jp/en/publication/research_results/2019_b06
https://www.jircas.go.jp/en/program/proc/blog/20220228

Both varieties are progenies of interspecific hybrids between sugarcane and wild sugarcane (Saccharum spontaneum), and grow vigorously on ratoon crops and produce a sugar yield equal to or greater than that of popular varieties and a fiber yield greater than that of popular varieties. By using high-yielding sugarcane with high fiber content, it is possible to obtain a large amount of bagasse, a byproduct of sugar mills. Bagasse can be used for power generation and other energy applications, and bio-refineries are expected to produce many useful chemicals and high value-added products. Furthermore, charcoal can be produced from bagasse and applied to soil, which is a negative-emission technology that improves soil fertility.
 
This workshop will introduce new technologies for the use of these by-products of sugar mills. In addition, the development of new sugarcane varieties suitable for multiple uses will be presented, utilizing interspecific hybrids between sugarcane and its wild species (S. spontaneum) and intergeneric hybrids between sugarcane and its closely related genetic resource Erianthus. In addition, specific needs and challenges of sugarcane production and industry in the Asia-Pacific region will be identified and breeding directions to produce new varieties for the future sugarcane industry will be discussed.
 
The workshop will be held online and participation is free, but pre-registration is required through the FFTC website. We encourage you to register via the link below.

Innovation and Networking of Sugarcane Research for Future Sugarcane Industry in the Asian and Pacific Region
Date : August 15 (Thu), 2022, 10:30-16:30 (JST)
Organizers : Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS), Food and Fertilizer Technology Center for Asia and the Pacific (FFTC)
Supported by : Kasetsart University
Language : English

Program & Registration Site (Deadline of registration is Wednesday, September 14, 17:00 JST)
https://km.fftc.org.tw/workshop/6
 

JIRCAS Site
Japanese :  https://www.jircas.go.jp/ja/workshop/2022/e20220915
English : https://www.jircas.go.jp/en/workshop/2022/e20220915

Contributor: ANDO Shotaro (Information and Public Relations Office)