NEW ENERGY FARMS (NEF)

The collaboration will utilise NEF’s extensive CEEDS experience in the propagation of perennial grasses, in sugarcane and other high biomass crops like Miscanthus and energy cane. Testing will commence this season to evaluate the response of current and emerging Australian varieties in the production of CEEDS artificial seed. Subsequent trials will examine germination, plant establishment and crop performance under a range of Australian production conditions.

“Establishing the crop is a major cost in sugarcane production. The value of just the sugarcane used for planting is around $25 million every year. New approaches in planting systems to release this industry value have been research topics before, but recent technological advances suggest it could now become a reality,” explained SRA Executive Manager for Variety Development and Processing, Dr. Jason Eglinton.