HIGHLIGHTS OF TWENTIETH CENTURY PROGRESS IN SUGAR TECHNOLOGY AND THE PROSPECTS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

摘要

The sugar industry is an old industry which is now reaching maturity. It has evolved with profitability as its predominant objective. It is now being competed with by both artificial sweeteners and glucose syrups. Because of the high level of the technologies invented or improved to optimise energy saving, environmental protection and quality assurance, it is again possible for the sugar industry to relaunch a rational market-share between the different producers of beet or cane. Technologies can be adapted to the specific countries. Awareness of the human dimension of such an activity as sugar production, which associates agriculture, engineering, processing, automation, and education for an adapted qualification should be born in the mind of decision-makers. The twenty-first century should combine modern technologies in Northern countries for increased profitability and help the developing countries in keeping a modernised industry protected from the tough law of the market.