Project: Develop an alternative method to determine dextran in intermediate sugar process produce, to improve quality and earnings.

Site: Jamaica: Sugar Industry Research Institute (SIRI)

Rationale: Dextran is a chemical product resulting from the degradation of sugarcane by micro-organisms’ activity. It has an adverse impact on sugar processing either in raw sugar production or refining by reducing juice filterability. Dextran is a good indicator of the degradation of the sugarcane quality before processing and consequently the presence of dextran is often related to important sugar losses between fields and factory. This degradation can be minimised by a good organisation of cane harvesting and transport mainly by reducing the lapse of time between cane harvesting and processing. When a significant amount of dextran is present in mill juice it can only be eliminated by an expensive and troublesome enzymatic treatment.

The availability of a cheap and easy dextran analytical method will make it possible to monitor the quality of sugarcane on a routine basis and eventually to correct the price of cane in relation to dextran contamination. With correction methods taken by farmers, it will lead to an improvement of the cane and juice quality and subsequently to a reduction of production costs.

Objectives: A new method for dextran analysis that can be used on a routine basis is implemented. Accordingly, the quality of raw sugar produced is increased and the factory production costs decreased.

Assumptions/Risks: The main risks and assumptions are presented below :

• The new dextran analysis method is efficient, easy to use and can be done at a low cost on a routine basis ;

• Cane growers are interested and willing to accept it as well as the related cost implication (bonus or malus);

• Funding is available.

Expected outputs: Dextran quantity in juice is clearly reduced and the price of cane paid to growers is related to dextran contamination. The growers will then decrease the time between harvest and processing which in turn will also have a positive impact on the sugar yield per hectare (less sugar losses in cane), perhaps 10 to 15% increase.

ACP countries concerned: Jamaica and possibly other ACP countries