Tuesday, 15 Sep, 2020 | Innovation, Sugar Industry
Melbourne business SugarWrap has launched a range of sustainable sugarcane-based products for households. Consumers can buy the new range including eco-friendly zip lock bags, bin bags, freezer bags made entirely from sugarcane-based Bio-PE and corn PLA renewable products.
SugarWrap said the sugarcane used is grown every year using proper irrigation and sustainable processes. It helps reverse fossil fuel effects and lessens Greenhouse Gases.
The sustainable products are recyclable and the cling wrap also has an AS 5810:2010 Certified Compostable version.
The company said its mission is to find alternative products for plastics that are affordable and use sustainable design.
SugarWraps’ new range is sold at Woolworths, Harris Farm Markets, IGA, selected local grocers, as well as online.
Monday, 24 Aug, 2020 | Innovation, Sugar Industry
Bondi Junction, New South Wales, Australia-based sustainable packaging developer BioPak has created the world’s first custom-molded oyster tray using sugarcane, with the help of its industry partner Blue Harvest.
A number of seafood farmers across Australia have been working with BioPak on formulating solutions to single-use packaging for the aquaculture sector. Blue Harvest – an Australian specialist seafood marketing agency working with producers of oysters, prawns, mussels, and pipis – reached out to the packaging firm seeking an alternative to the plastic-wrapped, single-use plastic trays currently being used to sell oysters.
The resulting sugarcane solution created by the companies is comprised of rapidly-renewable materials that would have otherwise been burned, BioPak said. The company said the new trays can help the aquaculture industry avoid plastics, improve ocean health, and reduce the sector’s environmental footprint.
“Biopak has been really responsive to our needs; a great company to work with,” Blue Harvest noted in a BioPak blog post. “Not only have they provided us with an alternative to the plastic tray, they have worked with us to design a completely new solution that looks and feels premium, and presents our oysters in a much better way. The number of single-use plastic trays currently used in Australia to sell oysters runs into the millions, and although we are in the early stages of the product’s launch, this has massive potential to slash that use.”
According to BioPak, that potential could result in the elimination of 1.5 metric tons of plastic from waste streams annually.
The trays are compostable and align with the quickly-evolving sustainable needs of the seafood industry, particularly where oysters are concerned, Blue Harvest said.
“Being in the seafood industry our livelihoods depend on clean and healthy oceans. Seafood transportation does however have its challenges, as it is a highly temperature sensitive product that perishes quickly after harvest,” the agency said in the blog post. “The solution to this has historically been using materials like polystyrene to provide insulation, and plastics to waterproof. We are really trying to turn this on its head, and the BioPak tray is a huge part of this effort. We want to get our products to consumers faster, more regularly, and in packaging that is either compostable or fully recyclable in a quality condition that is not only as good as the old-school packaging approaches, but better. We don’t need oyster trays that last 100 years, as fresh oysters will be eaten within a week.”
Reception of the new trays has been positive in a number of ways, Blue Harvest said, with retailers, consumers, and fellow industry players all remarking on the packaging’s benefits.
“There has been a really warm embrace from many in the seafood industry for both Blue Harvest and BioPak for taking the initiative with this sustainable, premium looking packaging. We are seeing images of the product being shared via social media by those in the industry – both producers and customers,” Blue Harvest said. “We believe that the trays will not only give our customers the peace of mind that they are purchasing a product in sustainable packaging, but also give them confidence in the quality and freshness of the oysters as each lidded tray allows for minimal handling from the processor through to the consumer.”
The trays serve to cut out a lot of waste and extra work for retailers as well, the firm noted.
“The packs have provided another benefit to our customers over and above providing a more sustainable solution. Historically, seafood retailers have had to take the plastic trays from their window when ordered, then wrap them in cling wrap, and then butcher paper, a process that takes time, causes waste, and leaves the product looking tacky. The handy clip on lid that comes with the new tray takes all of this process out, and really does leave the oysters looking their best,” it said.
Blue Harvest is working with the wild-capture and aquaculture producers it represents to promote third-party sustainability accreditation from either the Marine Stewardship Council or the Global Aquaculture Alliance’s Best Aquaculture Practices program.
“Oyster farming is an incredibly passive style of food production, as the oysters grow from consuming the natural food in their environment, and don’t require artificial feed inputs, which is one of the main reasons we want to get the final leg of their journey to people’s homes right,” Blue Harvest said.
Monday, 17 Aug, 2020 | Bioenergy, Biofuels, Innovation, Sugar Industry
New Energy Farms (NEF) and Sugar Research Australia (SRA) have entered into a license agreement to introduce the NEF CEEDS technology into the Australian sugarcane industry.
NEF is a crop technology company, established in 2010, to develop artificial seeds for crops that do not produce conventional seeds, such as sugarcane.
NEF developed and patented the CEEDS technology for the multiplication and planting of sugarcane crops worldwide.
CEEDS are small coated propagules directly drilled in the field like conventional seed. NEF have already licensed CEEDS for commercial sugarcane use in other key sugarcane markets including Brazil and Central America.
The collaboration will utilise NEF’s experience in 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.
Dr Jason Eglinton, SRA executive ,manager for variety development and processing, said: “Establishing the crop is a major cost in sugarcane production. The value of just the sugarcane used for planting is around $25 million (€15 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.
“This work will produce an understanding of the benefits and costs of the technology to inform potential adoption pathways. CEEDS also offers indirect benefits including the ability for growers to more rapidly change their variety mix and control of issues such as Ratoon Stunting Disease.”
The agreement will allow NEF to provide SRA with patented CEEDS technology to produce artificial seeds for the current, and future, sugarcane varieties in the Australian market.
“We are extremely pleased to have entered this License Agreement with SRA and we are very aware of the high level of respect in Australia and the wider sugarcane industry for their research and technology transfer activities,” said Dr Paul Carver, CEO of New Energy Farms.
Monday, 20 Jul, 2020 | Innovation, Sugar Industry
Aprinnova, the leading supplier of high performance, clean beauty ingredients is commercialising a plant-derived silica made from sugarcane ashes.
Silica is used widely in personal care and cosmetics. It is traditionally sourced from non-renewable sand dredging, which requires significant energy consumption and emits large amounts of C02.
The new ingredient called Biosilica can be used in foundations, creams, lotions and other applications as a sustainable and high performing alternative to traditional silica.
In addition, it offers an alternative to microplastics which are being phased out of many cosmetic products.
This ingredient innovation has been led by Amyris, Aprinnova’s joint venture partner, a leading synthetic biotechnology company in the clean health and beauty markets and a top supplier of sustainable and natural ingredients, in partnership with the Universidade Católica Portuguesa – Escola Superior de Biotecnologia (“UCP”) in Porto/AICEP Consortium Project.
Biosilica is available for sampling in August with commercial scale volumes expected to begin in 2021 and allows brands to participate in the circular economy based on the concept that materials and products are never wasted, but always reused or recycled.
Cosmetic brands can get on the list to request samples online through Aprinnova.
In consumer perception studies, both pressed powders and liquid foundations made with Biosilica demonstrated great skin performance when compared with formulations using industry benchmark silica.
Biosilica has unique sphericity, high oil absorption, particle size and oil/water absorption ratio. These characteristics offer premium benefits such as elegant texture, sebum control, mattification, and anti-aging effects without drying the skin.
The beauty industry is ready to lead sustainable innovations as it touches more lives each day than almost any other industry and produces millions of tons of waste from ingredient supply to product packaging.
Consumer demand for safe, high performing, and sustainable ingredients has led to the mega trend toward clean beauty.
Biosilica sets a new standard for how science and technology can help brands meet this consumer demand for better and safer ingredients.
Monday, 6 Jul, 2020 | Innovation, Sugar Industry
Economists working at the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries have developed a new online version of the Farm Economic Analysis Tool (FEAT) – that has been supporting sugarcane growers to make informed decisions for over 15 years.
“FEAT Online is a free tool that assists sugarcane growers with measuring the profitability of farming system changes,” said Mark Poggio, Agricultural Economics manager.
“This new tool streamlines data entry, allows growers to access regional scenarios and can be used on phones, tablets or computers. The regional scenarios are a convenient starting point for users and can be adapted to a specific farm by adjusting information as required.”
Burdekin grower Paul Villis said, “I have been using FEAT for years to help optimise my farming strategy and this new online version is very user friendly and has some handy new features”.
One of these new features is the ability to easily compare scenarios and be guided step-bystep through the tool. Growers can assess the profitability of existing farming systems and determine economic impacts and potential risks from proposed practice changes.
FEAT Online is useful to determine the farm production costs, profit and return on investment based on specific farm information entered by the grower. FEAT also calculates machinery costs (tractors and implements), nutrient management, weed control and irrigation expenses.
Cairns grower Mark Savina said, “I regularly consider what on-farm changes might benefit my back pocket and FEAT Online helps me to weigh up the pros and cons and distinguish the good from the bad”.
Mr Poggio thanked the FEAT project working group and industry stakeholders for their significant input.
FEAT is free for the Australian Sugarcane Industry, sign up online at http://featonline.com.au DAF is offering FEAT training workshops online for sugarcane growers and extension advisors. To register your interest and to find out more information, please email FEATregistration@daf.qld.gov.au or call (07) 3330 4523.
Editors note
FEAT Online was developed by economists from the Department of Agriculture and
Fisheries with project partners GP One.
Monday, 29 Jun, 2020 | Electricity, Innovation, Irrigation & Water, Sugar Industry
A BURDEKIN cane grower used technology to significantly reduce his water usage and in turn-electricity costs in a move that’s paying dividends.
Leon Franchina’s efforts to improve the efficiency of irrigation water has seen his water usage reduce by 140 megalitres a year and cut pumping costs by a third.
Mr Franchina installed scheduling tool Gdots on representative blocks to monitor soil moisture across the farm so irrigation timing could be matched to crop water use and soil type.
He also addressed soil trouble spots on the property by laser leveling and adding ash and mill mud to improve sandy areas in the paddock.
This increased soil water holding capacity has helped to combat deep drainage and improve irrigation efficiency.
As a result Mr Franchina is applying small irrigation volumes more frequently rather than large volumes less often.
“I have significantly reduced water use, from up to four megalitres per hectare to less than one megalitre,” Mr Franchina said.
“I’m also irrigating more efficiently saving two to three days out of an 11-day irrigation cycle.
“This is definitely a more scientific approach to delivering what the crop needs in the way of water. I’m only putting on what the plants need a day.
“Receiving real time information from the GDots means we can make informed decisions around irrigation scheduling, which is also improving business efficiency.”
Mr Franchina said the assistance received through The Reef Alliance Program Phase II had made it possible for him to fast track his irrigation improvements by at least five years.
The program has supported Mr Franchina to develop an irrigation improvement plan, as well as tailored extension and agronomic support.
“Through this project I’ve been able to reduce water usage by 140 megalitres per year and cut my pumping costs by a third,” Mr Franchina said.
NQ Dry Tropics sugar cane project officer Michael Hobbs said the project was helping Mr Franchina to achieve real outcomes on the ground and assisting to implement changes to farming practices faster than growers otherwise would have been able.
“Mr Franchina has been able to improve irrigation efficiency and save water without sacrificing yield,” Mr Hobbs said.
“He has been able to improve irrigation application efficiency by incorporating crop growth measurements and water use data into the irrigation schedule, and adjusting irrigation volumes to suit the amount of water used by the crop since the last irrigation.”
