Brazilian Researchers Expect "Super Sugarcane" on the Market in Three Years

The energy cane, developed through genetic enhancement, is at an advanced stage of research and  is already leading to new challenges.

The "super sugarcane", with higher levels of fiber and biomass, has been developed for six years by the Sugarcane Center. It is designed specifically to produce electric energy or second-generation ethanol from straw and pulp. Mauro Xavier, researcher at the Sugarcane Center, says the new sugarcane is likely to reach the market in three years.

The "super sugarcane" is thicker, much taller and produces much higher than the normal sugarcane. If the new sugarcane becomes a success, a new challenge will be to find harvesters and machinery that can cut it and take it to the power plants.

Although its focus is on energy, it can also be used to produce sugar, but the output will be lower.