The Australian Federal Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources, The Hon Ian Macfarlane, today announced that CSR Sugar will receive a federal government research grant, worth Aus$5 million, as part of a second wave of their Renewable Energy Development Initiative (REDI) funding program. 

Over a three year period the $5 million grant package will form part of CSR sugar’s funding of a research program aiming to develop a novel feedstock for environmentally and economically sustainable production of ethanol.  Increasing the energy intensity of crops has the potential to improve the international competitiveness of both the Australian biofuels and sugar industries.

The research, a collaboration between CSR Sugar, The University of Queensland and their commercialisation company UniQuest, focuses on the development of high-yielding sugarcane varieties to be used as a feedstock for ethanol biofuel production.

”Preliminary glasshouse results from growing high yielding sugarcane varieties for ethanol feedstock have been promising, but the technology has yet to be proven in the field”, said Professor Robert Birch, who leads the research program at The University of Queensland.

CSR Sugar CEO Mr Ian Glasson said “It is early days as outcomes capable of commercialisation are not expected for at least five years.  However, if the project is successful, CSR Sugar intends to make the technology commercially available to the Australian sugar industry, consistent with market demand.”

"This research is an integral component of CSR Sugar’s ongoing commitment to supporting innovation within the Australian sugar industry and is a prime example of the merits of industry partnering with Government.”