Global sugar council concludes with projections of world surplus in ‘12-13
2012-04-27 14:34:00
The 41st Session of the International Sugar Council, comprising 86 countries, concluded that the world sugar economy had a global surplus and tentative projections suggested that the world sugar balance would remain in surplus also in 2012-13.
Addressing media persons on the conclusion of the session here on Thursday, the chairman of the council, Dr B C Gupta, who is also secretary, department of food & public distribution, Government of India, stated that there was tremendous scope in all parts of the world for production and use of ethanol which could act as a big stabiliser for the health of the world sugar industry. He dwelt at length on ‘food versus fuel’ debate saying that there was growing awareness among all countries for more and more use of ethanol.
Dr Gupta also stated that the recent sugar surplus was due to increase sugar beet production in Russia and European Union. There was tremendous scope in countries like India for growing and developing sugarcane to act as a source of sugar and ethanol. Dr Gupta further advocated strongly that there was a possibility of making ethanol from cellulosic material including bagasse and efforts were already being made in this direction in India and other parts of the world. The technology was available but there was a need to make it more cost effective.
Dr Gupta also stressed the need for adopting the Indian model of cooperatives in other parts of the world in the International Year of Cooperatives 2012. The growers themselves could form into farmers’ association like cooperatives and handle all operations concerning the sugar sector from farm level to actual industrial operations.
On the penultimate day of the session, the ISO secretariat presented Market Evaluation, Consumption and Statistics studies conveying the outlook of sugar and ethanol production in Brazil, developments and drivers of sugar market in CIS Customs Union counties arid alternative sweeteners in a high price environment. Opportunities for developing derivatives from the sugarcane crop such as bio-plastics and bio-chemicals held the interest of the delegates.