CURRENT RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE SUGARCANE AGRICULTURE PRODUCTIVITY IN THE U.S.

摘要

THE U.S. is one of the largest sugar producing countries in the world. Beet sugar accounts for about 54 percent and cane sugar about 46 percent of the total sugar production. Sugarcane is commercially grown in Florida, Louisiana, Hawaii, and Texas. Since the mid-1990s, the U.S. sugarcane agriculture has been impacted by unfavorable economical, environmental, and biological constraints. There has been a general trend in increasing costs of production and reduction in total sugarcane acreage, numbers of sugarcane growers and processors, and sugarcane and sugar production. However, with the recent oil crisis and strong public interest in biomass and bio-fuel production, the total sugarcane and sugar production is projected to bounce back in the near future. This article outlines the ten most significant research and development strategies that may potentially turn the U.S. sugarcane industry into a more profitable agriculture business. Links to the website of sugarcane agriculture-related U.S. sugarcane research institutions, organizations and companies are also listed.