Page sponsored by Texaco Caribbean Limited
Publication: Daily Nation
Paper Section And Page: 17A
Paper Date: Wed, Apr 11, 2001
Byline: by Terry Ally
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Page sponsored by Texaco Caribbean Limited |
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Cane breeding a Bajan gold mine
THE sugar industry is sitting on a gold mine but not exploiting it, say two industry officials.
That gold mine is the Barbados-based West Indies Central Sugar Cane Breeding Station in Groves, St George which has the world's largest gene bank. With the expertise, technology, and bank of 3 000 varieties, it can make any sugar cane the industry wants - tall, short, thin, thick, soft, hard, sweet, fibrous, straight, crooked, high sugars among others. Place the order and give them at least five years to deliver and it's done, said director, Dr P. Seshagiri Rao.
"So if you have a goal, say four years from now, for a cane to produce alcohol, or you want high fibre for co-generation, we can produce it but you need to have a clear idea of what you want," said Rao.
A task force on sugar recently reviewed the industry but focused exclusively on raw sugar production but president of the Barbados Sugar Technologists in Agriculture Senator Keith Laurie has called for a time out, asking the industry to conduct a marketing and feasibility study into other products such as rum, alcohol, wood and co-generation.
"Every economist and market specialist I have talked to says that bulk sugar manufacturing is dead. It cost $1 500 per tonne and we earn $900 per tonne. We do not have guaranteed price, just a guaranteed quota and even that is now in question," he said.
That is why he thinks it is "madness" to even consider spending over $160 million to build a spanking new sugar factory to produce only bulk sugar. That new factory could produce the other products. Rao said that the biggest potential is for varieties with high sugars which could ratoon longer, produce sugar, alcohol and more molasses, stay in the field longer and facilitate a longer harvesting period. Laurie agreed saying it would be an excellent "rum cane".
"If you are not looking for sucrose (as
the major product) you could have a longer crop with a smaller factory producing
more product than we are doing now. We could grind cane into July and August to
produce rum and that would bring cost down and make us more competitive,"
Laurie explained.
IT is not located next to the sea but it is
still a window to the sea of sort and it has been closed - thanks to the Sandy
Lane development. It is located along Highway 2A. Previously one was able to
walk or drive along the section of highway passing besides Bennetts Plantations
and enjoy the calming coastal view. Now that view is reserved for golfers and
those fortunate to live west of the berm which was constructed as part of the
Sandy Lane golf course. Even though golf course themselves are controversial
items with environmentalists, the well manicured and perennial lush greenery,
the landscaped and tree planted courses, the manmade lakes are pleasant to see.
One used to be able to see the rolling greens and the one-million gallon
Barbados-shaped lake at Royal Westmoreland. Of the two most expensive and
prestigious golf courses in Barbados, all that Barbadians will be able to enjoy
will be the beauty of their berm and wall. Wasn't there a feasible compromise?
Islands disappointed with US rejection of Kyoto
THE Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) said it was "profoundly concerned and disappointed" by the American rejection of the Kyoto Protocol. The lobby of islands, which includes Barbados, was also fearful that a July meeting in Bonn to hammer out implementation details of the pact, designed to lower the emission of global warming gases, will be jeopardised and the international momentum to deal with climate change dashed. These islands are expected to suffer badly from global warming with some disappearing due to rising sea levels as polar icecaps melt.
"The Climate Change Convention, ratified by the United States in 1994, requires the global reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in order to prevent dangerous human interference with the earth's climate system. As the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, with only five per cent of the world's population, the United States is responsible for 25 per cent of the global greenhouse gas emissions. Given these circumstances, AOSIS believes the United States has a solemn responsibility, indeed a duty, to lead the world community in the struggle against global warming," AOSIS stated in a Press release.
More than 80 countries, including the United States, have signed the Kyoto Protocol and the a number have already ratified.