Sugar Industry Research Articles

Insights into Job Satisfaction in the Sugar Industry

This study investigates the impact of organizational commitment, job characteristics, and career development on employee job satisfaction in PT. PG Candi Baru, a sugar company in Sidoarjo, Indonesia. Using quantitative research with 130 permanent employees, data was collected via Likert scale questionnaires and analyzed using path analysis techniques with SmartPLS software. The results confirm that organizational commitment, job characteristics, and career development positively influence employee job satisfaction. These findings underscore the importance of fostering organizational commitment, improving job characteristics, and providing career development opportunities to enhance overall employee satisfaction and organizational performance in the sugar industry. Highlight: Quantitative Analysis: Path analysis with SmartPLS software for robust statistical insights. Positive Relationships: Organizational commitment, job characteristics, career development enhance satisfaction. Industry Relevance: Vital implications for enhancing satisfaction in the sugar industry. Keywoard: Organizational Commitment, Job Characteristics, Career Development, Employee Job Satisfaction, Sugar Industry

Agricultural Information Needs and Resources of Smallholder Sugarcane Farmers in Swaziland

Abstract The sugar industry is the dominant agricultural sector in Swaziland’s economy, contributing significantly to the gross domestic product. Provision of relevant and timely information to smallholder sugarcane farmers is crucial for them to have a competitive footing with large-scale counterparts and reduce poverty. However, there is limited literature on the information needs and the kind of information communication resources that could make the dissemination of information to farmers efficient and effective. This study thus aims to investigate the information needs and resources of smallholder sugarcane farmers in Swaziland to inform the provision of information services in the sugar industry. It was underpinned by a positivist paradigm and used the survey research method complemented by methodological triangulation to collect quantitative and qualitative data. Data was collected using survey questionnaires and face-to-face interviews, with 168 responses and six interviews conducted. The findings revealed that 71 % of information needs of farmers were primarily in legislative compliance, sugarcane crop husbandry, markets and transport, and financial advice information, however, there were no statistically significant differences between the three mill groups in information needs. The smallholder sugarcane farmers also mostly obtained agricultural information through extension officers, farmer groups, and mobile phones, indicating that required information was mainly accessed through face-to-face interactions. The empirical findings of the study have implications for practice, policy, and theory with respect to guiding the implementation of agricultural information services by information providers in the context of rural farmers in developing countries.

Corporate Social Responsibility’s Hidden Power in context of Pakistan: Amplifying Firm Performance

This research explores the impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on the performance of firms listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange in the cement and sugar industries. This link is examined using panel data derived from financial reports from 2013 to 2022. The study includes generally used performance indicators, such as Return on Assets, Return on Equity, and Earnings per Share, by previous literature. The corporate social responsibility data is generated from information released by firms about philanthropic activities, contributions, and R&D projects. The study also takes into account other financial and control variables such as firm size, firm age, and leverage. The random sampling approach is used to create a sample of 28 non-financial listed organizations. Several statistical tests are used in the study, including panel data technology, correlation, random effect, and fixed effect models. According to the findings of this study, corporate social responsibility has a favorable impact on company performance. These findings are consistent with previous research done in developing nations and are relevant for Pakistani businesses, which operate in different economic environments than their Western counterparts. This study provides significant insights for organizations and regulatory agencies. Furthermore, the paper makes suggestions for future research, such as the assessment of context variables such as ownership structure, the consideration of other periods, and the investigation of other industrial sectors.

The time-series GF-1 WFV data monitoring of sugarcane using a Random Forest Algorithm in South China

Abstract. There is large distribution of sugarcane growth in south China which is play an important role of sugar industry. Remote sensing technology is used in sugarcane monitoring for large areas. However, the optical satellite data coverage is influenced by the rainy weather especially in the grand growth period of sugarcane. GF-1 WFV has widely swath 800km and short revisit time which is ideal data for this study area. In this paper, the random forest model was chosen to get a precise classification result of sugarcane based on time-series band value and 5 spectral indexes image is 89.73% and the Kappa coefficient is 0.65 which is satisfied the overall extraction of sugarcane for large area is the southern China. Furthermore, the decision tree classification was chosen as a comparative experience research.

Research on Sugarcane Recognition based on Joint Spatial and Spectral Information from Satellite-Based Hyperspectral Imagery

Abstract. The total amount of sugarcane planting in China ranks third in the world, and Guangxi is the largest sugarcane planting base in China. In order to help the Guangxi government and industry better understand the annual planting distribution and scale of sugarcane in the whole region, it is convenient to optimize the planting structure and improve the efficiency of resource utilization, so as to ensure the stable development of Guangxi sugar industry. Based on the satellite-based hyperspectral image data of ' Zhuhai No.1 ', this paper carries out sugarcane recognition and area extraction, which fills the application gap of satellite-based hyperspectral image data in extracting sugarcane area in China. A globally optimized extended random walk model was used to identify and extract sugarcane by combining the spatial-spectral information of hyperspectral imagery. Firstly, the Initial probability estimation is performed using the LOR classifier, and then use the data after MNF dimensionality reduction to construct a weighted graph, and finally the probability optimization and recognition are carried out based on the extended random walk model. The results show that the spatial-spectral joint method based on extended random walk can effectively identify sugarcane, and the sugarcane recognition accuracy of 2021 year image can reach 91.4%, the misrecognition rate is 2.8%; the sugarcane recognition accuracy of 2020 year image can reach 90.5 %, the misrecognition rate is 3.1%.

Secondary raw materials for sugar production and directions for its processing

The article is devoted to a review of literature data on the problem of environmental safety of sugar production. The main types of waste generated during sugar production are considered. Some areas of processing and disposal of sugar production waste, such as beet pulp, filter cake, molasses, beet tailings, and wastewater, are given. Beet pulp is mainly dried and used to manufacture feed for farm animals. It can be used to obtain powdered semi-finished products in the food industry and the production of fertilizers. Filtration sediment is used to improve the quality of the soil-biotic complex of leached chernozem. Molasses is also a byproduct of sugar production, containing about 50% sucrose. Therefore, it becomes advisable to extract sugar from molasses, subject to economic benefits. Inexpensive and uncomplicated methods for removing sugar from molasses include lime separation, precipitation of sucrose using acetic acid, and barite and strontium methods for extracting sugar from molasses. Wastewater from sugar factories can be used for irrigation. However, given that the sugar beet processing season does not coincide with the growing season, to irrigate fields with wastewater, it is necessary to build unique storage ponds, settling tanks, and pumping and irrigation systems, which require additional costs. Another type of waste is generated when sugar beets are processed: beet tailings. This type of waste is usually used to obtain additional sugar or feed farm animals. The tailings are collected on a rotary beet catcher, passed through a sorting classifier, and sent for processing. The fine fraction is sent with the pulp for dehydration or to pulp pits for feeding livestock.

Rapid fractionation of corn stover by microwave-assisted protic ionic liquid [TEA][HSO4] for fermentative acetone–butanol–ethanol production

BackgroundThe use of ionic liquids (ILs) to fractionate lignocelluloses for various bio-based chemicals productions is in the ascendant. On this basis, the protic ILs consisting of triethylammonium hydrogen sulfate ([TEA][HSO4]) possessed great promise due to the low price, low pollution, and high efficiency. In this study, the microwave-assistant [TEA][HSO4] fractionation process was established for corn stover fractionation, so as to facilitate the monomeric sugars production and supported the downstream acetone–butanol–ethanol (ABE) fermentation.ResultsThe assistance of microwave irradiation could obviously shorten the fractionation period of corn stover. Under the optimized condition (190 W for 3 min), high xylan removal (93.17 ± 0.63%) and delignification rate (72.90 ± 0.81%) were realized. The mechanisms for the promotion effect of the microwave to the protic ILs fractionation process were ascribed to the synergistic effect of the IL and microwaves to the depolymerization of lignocellulose through the ionic conduction, which can be clarified by the characterization of the pulps and the isolated lignin specimens. Downstream valorization of the fractionated pulps into ABE productions was also investigated. The [TEA][HSO4] free corn stover hydrolysate was capable of producing 12.58 g L−1 of ABE from overall 38.20 g L−1 of monomeric sugars without detoxification and additional nutrients supplementation.ConclusionsThe assistance of microwave irradiation could significantly promote the corn stover fractionation by [TEA][HSO4]. Mass balance indicated that 8.1 g of ABE and 16.61 g of technical lignin can be generated from 100 g of raw corn stover based on the novel fractionation strategy.

The creative–destructive force of hurricanes: evidence from technological adoption in colonial Jamaican sugar estates

AbstractWhile in the early part of the nineteenth-century Jamaica was one of the world’s leading sugar producers, the abolition of slavery, the flooding of sugar markets with cheap European beet sugar, and the equalization and finally elimination of sugar import duties across the British empire led to a need for more efficient ways to produce sugar. However, it has been widely noted that Jamaica sugar estates were late in adopting more efficient production techniques, arguably due to inadequate financing. This paper investigates what role the destructive forces of hurricanes may have played in inducing Jamaica to finally modernize its sugar production. To this end, we combine a geo-referenced exhaustive data set of Jamaican sugar estates with a measure of localized hurricane damage constructed from historical hurricane tracks over the period 1882 to 1930. Our econometric analysis shows that hurricane strikes increased the probability that a surviving estate upgraded its sugar processing technology, particularly when the price of sugar was high and the price of the other main exporting crop (bananas) was low. Additionally, while a government hurricane loan programme working through local loan banks did help plantations to adopt new machinery, this depended on the damage not being too large.

Determining sugar and molasses origin by non‐exchangeable hydrogen stable isotope of ethanol and carbon isotope ratio mass spectrometry

AbstractThis study explores the differentiation of sugar and molasses produced from sugar beet and cane, which are susceptible to fraudulent labeling due to differing production costs. The research aimed to authenticate these products by botanical origin using novel analytical techniques. Utilizing ethanol isotopic measurement–isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) for non‐exchangeable hydrogen stable isotopes alongside carbon stable isotopes analysis through elemental analyzer–IRMS, the study accurately identified the origin of various sugar and molasses samples, pinpointed mislabeled goods, and determined the source of products with previously unknown provenance. These methods were also effective in revealing sugar and molasses adulteration and quantifying the extent of such fraud. The combined isotope analyses demonstrated their potential as robust tools for combating misrepresentation and adulteration in the sugar industry.

Strategy for the analysis of lignocellulosic biomass to select a viable transformation route in the Colombian context.

Lignocellulosic biomass is widely available in the world. However, a consensus has yet to be established to evaluate the biomass valorization alternatives. The chemical composition is the primary technical limitation in selecting a transformation route to obtain value-added products. In this paper, the bagasse from non-centrifuged sugar (NCS) production and Pinus patula (PP) wood chips were analyzed in terms of complete chemical composition to establish their potential for selecting the transformation routes. A strategy to select the best route based on the chemical composition was applied and a feedstock criteria model was proposed. Schemes were obtained and compared using a bioprocess selection strategy proposed in previous works. As a result, the preliminary biorefinery schemes were finally defined. The assessment of schemes derived from the outlined strategy included technical, economic, environmental, and social analyses. The environmental evaluation was complemented with a geolocation assessment, revealing a 0.75-ton CO2-eq/yr contribution to the carbon footprint for local distribution. The sustainability index for the PP biorefinery and the bagasse from NCS production was analyzed, resulting in indices of 44.8 and 60.9, respectively. These values were primarily derived from the economic and environmental analyses of both processes.

Expression and characterization of a novel β-1,4-endoglucanase from Bacillus subtilis strain isolated from a pulp and paper mill wastewater.

The production of fermentable sugars from lignocellulosic biomass is achieved by the synergistic action of a group of enzymes called cellulases. Cellulose is a long chain of chemically linked glucoses by β-1,4 bonds. The enzyme β-1,4-endoglucanase is the first cellulase involved in the degradation, breaking the bond of the amorphous regions. A β-1,4-endoglucanase enzyme with high activity was obtained from a Bacillus subtilis strain isolated from wastewater of a pulp and paper mill. Sequencing and bioinformatic analysis showed that the gene was amplified by PCR consisting of 1,407 nucleotides and coding for a β-1,4-endoglucanase enzyme of approximately 55 kDa. The open reading frame (ORF) encoding the mature endoglucanase (eglS) was successfully inserted in a modified cloning plasmid (pITD03) and into the pYD1 plasmid used for its expression in yeast. Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) plate assay, SDS-PAGE, and zymogram confirmed the production and secretion by the transformed E. coli BL21-SI strain of a 39 kDa β-1,4-endoglucanase consistent with the catalytic domain without the cellulose-binding module (CBM). The results showed that the truncated β-1,4-endoglucanase had higher activity and stability.

Functional characterization of sugarcane ScFTIP1 reveals its role in Arabidopsis flowering

The timing of floral transition is essential for reproductive success in flowering plants. In sugarcane, flowering time affects the production of sugar and biomass. Although the function of the crucial floral pathway integrators, FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT), in sugarcane, has been uncovered, the proteins responsible for FT export and the underlying mechanism remain unexplored. In this study, we identified a member of the multiple C2 domain and transmembrane region proteins (MCTPs) family in sugarcane, FT-interacting protein 1 (ScFTIP1), which was localized to the endoplasmic reticulum. Ectopic expression of ScFTIP1 in the Arabidopsis mutant ftip1-1 rescued the late-flowering phenotype. ScFTIP1 interacted with AtFT in vitro and in vivo assays. Additionally, ScFTIP1 interacted with ScFT1 and the floral inducer ScFT3. Furthermore, we found that the NAC member, ScNAC23, could directly bind to the ScFTIP1 promoter and negatively regulate its transcription. Overall, our findings revealed the function of ScFTIP1 and proposed a potential mechanism underlying flowering regulation in sugarcane.

Enhancing Xylanase Production from Aspergillus tamarii Kita and Its Application in the Bioconversion of Agro-Industrial Residues into Fermentable Sugars Using Factorial Design

The endo-1,4-β-xylanases (EC 3.2.1.8) are the largest group of hydrolytic enzymes that degrade xylan, the major component of hemicelluloses, by catalyzing the hydrolysis of glycosidic bonds β-1,4 in this polymer, releasing xylooligosaccharides of different sizes. Xylanases have considerable potential in producing bread, animal feed, food, beverages, xylitol, and bioethanol. The fungus Aspergillus tamarii Kita produced xylanases in Adams’ media supplemented with barley bagasse (brewer’s spent grains), a by-product from brewery industries. The culture extract exhibited two xylanase activities in the zymogram, identified by mass spectrometry as glycosyl hydrolase (GH) families 10 and 11 (GH 10 and GH 11). The central composite design (CCD) showed excellent predictive capacity for xylanase production (23.083 U mL−1). Additionally, other enzyme activities took place during the submerged fermentation. Moreover, enzymatic saccharification based on a mixture design (MD) of three different lignocellulosic residues was helpful in the production of fermentable sugars by the A. tamarii Kita crude extract.

The release of ‘LCP 85‐384’ and its contribution to the Louisiana sugar industry

The release of ‘LCP 85‐384’ and its contribution to the Louisiana sugar industry

Applicability of SCoT markers in unraveling genetic variation and population structure among sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) germplasm.

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) holds significant importance as a crop globally cultivated for sugar production. The genetic diversity present in sugar beet accessions plays a crucial role in crop improvement programs. During the present study, we collected 96 sugar beet accessions from different regions and extracted DNA from their leaves. Genomic DNA was amplified using SCoT primers, and the resulting fragments were separated by gel electrophoresis. The data were analyzed using various genetic diversity indices, and constructed a population STRUCTURE, applied the unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA), and conducted Principle Coordinate Analysis (PCoA). The results revealed a high level of genetic diversity among the sugar beet accessions, with 265 bands produced by the 10 SCoT primers used. The percentage of polymorphic bands was 97.60%, indicating substantial genetic variation. The study uncovered significant genetic variation, leading to higher values for overall gene diversity (0.21), genetic distance (0.517), number of effective alleles (1.36), Shannon's information index (0.33), and polymorphism information contents (0.239). The analysis of molecular variance suggested a considerable amount of genetic variation, with 89% existing within the population. Using STRUCTURE and UPGMA analysis, the sugar beet germplasm was divided into two major populations. Structure analysis partitioned the germplasm based on the origin and domestication history of sugar beet, resulting in neighboring countries clustering together. The utilization of SCoT markers unveiled a noteworthy degree of genetic variation within the sugar beet germplasm in this study. These findings can be used in future breeding programs with the objective of enhancing both sugar beet yield and quality.

Marc content of sugar beet in Germany

The marc content of sugar beet denotes the insoluble cell wall compounds that have always been used as animal feed. In the foreseeable future, they will be used to generate power for sugar factories to reach a carbon-free sugar manufacturing process. To monitor the marc content of beet delivered to sugar factories in Germany, 1042 sugar beet samples were taken during the campaigns in 2018/19, 2019/20, and 2020/21. The average marc content was 3.87% in 2018, 3.89% in 2019, and 4.01% in 2020. The marc content was slightly lower on light and heavy soils than the prevailing loam soils, probably because of irrigation. With higher water availability during the season, the marc content was lower. The harvest date and the length of the storage period did not influence the marc content. Cultivars differed greatly in marc content, but no clear relationship existed to their sugar content. As the marc content of sugar beet affects the susceptibility to damage during harvest and loading, the infestation with pathogens during storage and thus storages losses, and influences the first processing steps as well, the marc content should be monitored to ensure that it does not continue to decrease any further.

Geostatistics and GIS as a Technique for Chemical Soil Properties Mapping

Soil properties play a fundamental role in agriculture, and understanding their spatial distribution is essential for effective land management and increasing agricultural productivity. This study focuses on the application of geostatistics and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as techniques for mapping soil properties, in the case of the Mozambique Sugar cane company (ADM) in Mafambisse, in the province of Sofala, Mozambique. The central objective is to demonstrate how geostatistics and GIS can be used to characterize and map soil properties. The research was materialized using field surveys that estimated the pH in the field of several sampling points at different depths in the irrigated perimeter of the ADM. Geostatistics is applied, using methods such as kriging and variogram analysis, allowing the creation of continuous maps that represent soil properties in unsampled locations. GIS is an essential tool for integrating geostatistical data and creating accessible and informative maps. The results of this study indicate that the combination of geostatistics and GIS offers an effective approach for mapping soil properties. This knowledge is crucial for Mozambique sugar cane company, an important company in the sugar industry, to optimize its agricultural practices, increase productivity and minimize environmental impacts. Thus, offering solid bases for making informed and sustainable agricultural decisions, contributing to efficient agricultural development in Mozambique and other regions with similar challenges.

Using electrodialysis to increase the efficiency of sugar enterprises

The paper shows the efficiency of electromembrane treatment of semi-products of sugar production in order to increase the yield of sugar by reducing its losses in molasses. Based on the analysis of changes in the studied parameters of semi­products of sugar production during the electrodialysis process, scientific data were obtained on the effect of electromembrane treatment on the chemical composition and technological quality of purified semi­products of sugar production, as well as on decrease in calcium salts content in them. The purpose of the research is to create a highly efficient method for production of white sugar, allowing to increase the yield of sugar from raw materials and reduce the amount of excipients by means of electrodialysis with its subsequent practical implementation at industry enterprises. Under production conditions, it was found that electromembrane treatment of one batch (7 t) of purified juice allows to additionally obtain up to 35 kg of sugar, a batch of syrup – up to 130 kg, and soft sugar effluent of II crystallization – up to 255 kg. Electromembrane treatment of molasses makes it possible to: reduce the mass fraction of calcium salts to dry matters by 39 % of their initial content; increase molasses purity by 8.5 %; reduce the molasses-forming coefficient by 21 % by reducing the content of potassium and sodium. In this case, the estimated amount of additional sugar obtained from it will make 5.1 % by weight or 392.7 kg of sugar from one batch of processed molasses. The research will allow to develop scientific and technological aspects of purification of semi-products of sugar production using electromembrane treatment. 

Local Wisdom of Making "Gula Habang" in Balangan Regency: Ethnoscience Study

Ethnoscience is a science learning approach based on local wisdom, such as making Gula Habang, which is closely related to the material of temperature and heat in physics subjects. The process of making brown sugar contains a lot of genuine science, which basically can be explained scientifically, namely the concepts of temperature and heat. The research objective is to analyze original science and scientific science in the manufacture of brown sugar. This study uses direct observation about making “Gula Habang” and analysis of the temperature and heat modules based on local wisdom in the manufacture of Gula Habang. The results of the literature study and the analysis carried out by the researchers, the matter of temperature and heat can be explained by linking the concepts of temperature, change of state, and heat transfer to the process of making brown sugar. Therefore, the ethno-science-based learning of making Gula Habang, in Balangan Regency can be applied in learning physics on temperature and heat materials as well as science on heat transfer materials, because it can accommodate basic competencies in the 2013 curriculum for high school and junior high school levels, as well as learning outcomes in the independent curriculum for junior and senior high school. Keywords: local wisdom, Gula Habang, Balangan, ethnoscience study

Financial inclusion, digital finance and agricultural participation

PurposeFinancial inclusion and digital finance go side by side and help enhance agricultural activities; however, the magnitude of digital financial services varies across countries. In line with this argument, this study aims to examine whether financial inclusion enhances agricultural participation and decompose the significance of the difference in determinants of agricultural participation between financially included – not financially included households and digital finance – no digital finance households.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses Pakistan’s household integrated economic survey 2018/19 to test hypotheses. The logit model is used to examine the effect of financial inclusion on agriculture participation. Moreover, this study employs a nonlinear Fairlie Oaxaca Blinder technique to investigate the difference in determinants of agricultural participation.FindingsThis study reports that financial inclusion positively influences agricultural participation, meaning households may have access to financial services and participate in agricultural activities. The results suggest that the likelihood of participating in agriculture in households with mobiles and smartphones is higher. Moreover, household size, income, age, gender, education, urban, remittances from abroad, fertilizer, pesticides, wheat, cotton, sugarcane, fruits and vegetables are the significant determinants of agricultural participation. To distinguish the financially included – not financially included households’ gap, this study employs a nonlinear Fairlie Oaxaca Blinder decomposition and finds that differences in fertilizer explain the substantial gap in agricultural participation. Likewise, this study tests the digital finance – no digital finance gap and finds that the difference in fertilizer is a significant contributor, describing a considerable gap in agricultural participation.Research limitations/implicationsEmpirically identified that various factors cause agricultural participation including financial inclusion and digital finance. Regarding the research limitation, this study only considers a developing country to analyze the findings. However, for future research, scholars may consider some other countries to compare the results and identify their differences.Practical implicationsThe accessibility of fertilizer can reduce the agricultural participation gap. However, increased income level, education and cotton and sugar production can also overcome the differences in agriculture participation between digital finance and no digital finance households.Originality/valueThis is the first study to decompose the difference in determinants of agricultural participation between financially and not financially included households.