Ballina to host sugar technology conference

August 23, 2008

The New South Wales sugar industry is to host the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists annual conference in Ballina in 2009.

The theme is ‘Sugar cane as renewable energy biomass - the way forward’ and covers the practical application of using renewable energy biomass as the basis of future industry viability.

The conference will be staged in Ballina from May 5 to 8 and is expected to attract up to 400 delegates.

Sugar Operations Manager with NSW Sugar, Bill Walker, is the President of the ASSCT and says the conference will have a focus on the New South Wales industry model of harvesting and milling whole of crop cane for renewable electricity generation.

“This encompasses the whole value chain from variety selection for higher fibre canes, agronomic practice changes, the harvesting, transportation and milling of whole crop cane, cane and fibre payment systems, the new co-generation plants, the stockpiling and handling of biomass fuel, alternate biomass products and marketing aspects of the new products,” he said.

A conference executive team has been appointed and will plan the conference with assistance from other NSW Sugar staff.

The ASSCT is a leading technical society, which provides a forum for scientists, engineers, chemists, institutions, farmers, companies and individuals interested in sugar cane technology to publish and discuss industry developments.

NSW Sugar is a co-operative with 600 grower-members and 430 staff and operates sugar mills at Condong, Broadwater and a mill and refinery at Harwood.

Two 30-megawatt renewable energy plants will also be completed this year as the industry diversifies.

The co-operative’s sugar is sold wholesale and retail under the Sunshine Sugar brand.

More information on the ASSCT is available at www.assct.com.au

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