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Where Does Sugar Come From?

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Where Does Sugar Come From? Where does sugar come from? This is Joe and Jana. They’re here to tell you all about the journey of the jellybean. Sugar, which is the main ingredient in jellybeans, is produced in more than 100 countries around the world. In Australia, sugar is made from a tall tropical grass called sugarcane. Joe grows sugarcane so he knows all about it. What is sugarcane? Where is sugarcane grown? Why is sugarcane important for Australia? Sugarcane is a tall tropical plant In Australia, sugarcane can be seen that is similar to bamboo. To growing along 2,100 kilometers Sugarcane is one of Australia’s most grow successfully, sugarcane of coastline between Mossman in important rural industries, worth needs strong sunlight, fertile far north Queensland and Grafton around $1.5 - $2.5 billion to the soil and lots of water. It needs in northern New South Wales. Australian economy. Approximately 70% of the world’s sugar is produced at least 1.5 m of rainfall each Sugarcane growers manage from sugarcane; the remaining year or access to irrigation. some unique and spectacular 30% is made from sugarbeet. vegetation, animal life and Sugar is made in the leaves of the waterways. Many cane growers Cane growing and sugar production sugarcane plant through a natural live close to rainforests and the has been around for over a process called photosynthesis. Great Barrier Reef. Because of their hundred years in Australia. The Photosynthesis occurs when a proximity, many cane growing sugarcane industry has helped plant, using energy from the sun, families spend their weekends build many coastal towns and transforms carbon dioxide (CO2) and outdoors swimming and fishing. is the main source of income water (H20) into oxygen (02) and for many towns to this day. Cane growers go out of their way glucose (sugar). to manage the land so it is still The plant absorbs water through in excellent condition for their its roots and O2 from the air children and grandchildren to enjoy through the pores in its leaves. for many generations to come. Sugar is created when this process is combined with the help of a substance called chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is green and gives plants their colour. It allows plants to absorb the sun’s energy more readily. In the same way that animals Did you know? store fat, the sugarcane plant Sugarbeet is a root crop that stores energy that is doesn’t resembles a large parsnip. It’s need. This extra energy is sugar grown mostly in the cooler and it is stored as sweet juice temperature zones of the in the plants’ stalks. When ripe, northern hemisphere. sugarcane stalks are harvested and converted into raw sugar. Sweet facts 3rd 7th 80% largest largest exported Sugarcane is one of raw sugar agricultural overseas supplier in experorter Australia’s most important the world in Australia rural industries. He’s why: $1.7-$2 30-35 4.5-5 billion Mt Mt value of of cane of raw production sugar Mossman MOSSMAN Coral Sea CAIRNS 4000 24 6 Tableland Mulgrave INNISFAIL cane farm sugar mills bulk South Johnstone businesses storage MOURILYAN ports Tully Great Barrier Reef Macknade LUCINDA INGHAM Victoria TOWNSVILLE Invicta Pioneer Kalamia Inkerman Proserpine PROSERPINE Fairleigh MACKAY Marian Racecourse Why is Australia a world leader in the Plane Creek sugarcane industry? The Australian cane growing sector is one of the most progressive agricultural industries ROCKHAMPTON in the world. Huge amounts of time and energy have been chanelled into research and BUNDABERG development to improve farming practices. Bingera Millaquin Australia’s sugarcane growers have worked Isis hard to become leaders in responsible and sustainable farming. Using the latest MARYBOROUGH technology, they are improving their GYMPIE farming practices to reduce soil eroision and protect nearby waterways and the Great Barrier Reef. Their aim is to protect the natural resources, their children’s BRISBANE heritage, and of course, the value of their Rocky Point property and the Great Barrier Reef. Condong As a national industry, Australia is continually Broadwater striving to improve the efficiency and BALLINA Harwood productivity of its cane harvesting and transport practices. Specific goals include increased GRAFTON cane and sugar yields through improved harvesting and by reduced cane and juice losses as cane passes through the harvester. Sugarcane Areas Sugar Mills Sugar Refineries Bulk Sugar Terminal Ports The sugarcane process: from paddock to plate 1. Planting 2. Growing 3. Harvesting Sugarcane is grown by replanting part To grow successfully, sugarcane needs Heavy-duty machines called cane harvesters of a mature cane stalk. Farmers cut strong sunlight; fertile soil; and lots cut the cane stalks off the plant at its some of the fully grown cane stalks of water (at least 1.5 metres of rain base. As they move down each row, the into 40 cm lengths called ‘setts’. each year or access to irrigation). cane is collected and cut into shorter 30 cm length pieces known as ‘billets’. These setts are planted by special New shoots grow from buds on the machines, which drop them into furrows, joints of the setts. These shoots break A second machine called a cane add fertiliser and cover them with soil. through the soil surface between two haulout drives alongside the and four weeks after planting. Each sett harvester to collect the billets. can shoot up to 12 stalks, forming what is known as the stool of sugarcane. In Australia, sugarcane is harvested annually during the drier months of June In warm and sunny Queensland, it takes nine through to November. As harvesting to 16 months to grow a cane crop. Growth is cannot be done in the rain, farmers are slower in cooler climates like NSW, where it very dependant on fine weather. takes 18 to 24 months to grow a cane crop. Typically, a cropping cycle comprises one plant crop and 3 to 4 ratoon (regrowth) crops. When ripe, the cane is usually about 2 to 4 metres tall. 80% exported overseas Approximately 80% of Australia’s sugar production into storage sheds. When ready for collection, is exported overseas as ‘raw’ sugar. Australia is the conveyers quickly move the sugar onto ships. 70% East Asia world’s third largest exporter of ‘raw’ sugar after Brazil and Thailand. Queensland’s bulk sugar terminals can store 20% Australia more than 2 million tonnes of raw sugar, allowing 5.5% New Zealand In Australia, all ‘raw’ sugar has been handled in year-round deliveries to refineries in Australia and bulk since 1964. ‘Raw’ sugar is stored in bulk sugar overseas. Queensland bulk sugar terminals are 4.5% North America terminals before it is sent to refineries in Australia located at Cairns, Mourilyan, Lucinda, Townsville, or overseas. Mackay, and Bundaberg. Large containers of bulk sugar are transported from the mills to the terminals by road and rail. On arrival, the sugar is carried by conveyer The sugarcane process: from paddock to plate 4. Getting cane to the mill 5. Milling 6. Refining To minimise sugarcane deterioration Sugar mills crush cane to extract and Australian mills produce ‘raw’ sugar, and juice evaporation, sugarcane must separate the sucrose (sugar) from the water, a product not to be confused with the raw be transported to a sugar mill within impurities and plant fibre contained in the sugar that we use to sweeten hot drinks. ‘Raw’ 16 hours of being harvested. billets. Using a computerised scheduling sugar from the mill is system, the sugarcane is monitored as it refined until it is suitable for human Once full, the cane haulout then drives across moves through a four step milling process. consumption and for use as an ingredient in the paddock to the road, where it unloads the manufacture of its contents either into a semi truck (for road • Weigh & Record food and drinks. transport) or mill bins at local sidings on the Sugarcane is weighed and processed nearest railway track (for train transport). at automatic cane-receiving stations At the refinery, the ‘raw’ sugar crystals as soon as it arrives at the mill. are washed and dissolved in hot water. The sugarcane industry maintains a network Carbon dioxide and lime are added to the of nearly 4000 km of narrow-gauge rail • Chop & Shred melted ‘raw’ sugar to remove impurities. lines to get cane from the paddock to The billets are then tipped into a cane carrier Any remaining colours and impurities are the mill quickly and cost effectively. and transported to the shredder where they removed as the sugar is filtered through cloth. are chopped and shredded into fibrous The now pure sugar is boiled in a vacuum material. This process ruptures the juice cells. pan and seeded with fine sugar crystals. • Crush When the crystals are large enough, they The cane material is then crushed as it is are tumble dried to remove moisture. The fed through a series of mills. Three large dried sugar is then graded into sizes and rollers arranged in a triangle formation, packaged for for delivery to customers. separate the juice from the fibrous material. This process separates the juice from the baggasse, which is fibrous material used as fuel to run the mill’s boiler furnaces. • Heat & Cool The juice is pumped away for processing into raw sugar. It is cleaned to remove impurities and thickened into a syrup by boiling off 20% processed in Australia excess water. It is then seeded with tiny sugar crystals in a vacuum pan and boiled until sugar Australian refineries process approximately 20% crystals have formed and grown. These crystals of Australia’s ‘raw’ sugar into white (refined) sugar; are separated from the molasses around them liquid sugar products; and other specialty products in centrifuges that are like giant spin dryers.
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