Globalization is a global phenomenon. Cost of sugarSince 2011, the price of sugar has continued to increase, causing concern among producers who depend on this commodity to manufacture their products. Food and beverage manufacturers aren't the only ones affected. The consumer also suffered as rising raw material costs were, in many cases, passed on to them through higher prices.
What is driving the price of sugar up?
The rise in sugar prices is mainly due to low sugarcane production from Thailand and other sugar-supplying countries, leading to a shortage of sugarcane as well as increased competition.
The EU gave developing countries duty-free access under its Everything But Arms deal because they feared demand was starting to outstrip supply. The EU has also negotiated economic partnerships with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries to encourage producing countries to continue selling to the EU in other markets.
Science has now entered the debate and is studying the possibility of editing genes to increase sugar cane production.
What can be done to restart the sugar cane harvest?
University of Florida researchers believe they have found a method to optimize the angle of sugarcane leaves using CRISPR, a type of gene editing known as clustered regularly interspaced small palindromic repeats. The optimized leaf angle is designed to increase sunlight absorption and help each plant grow to its full potential.
Sugar cane represents 80 % of global sugar production, while sugar beets only represent 20 %. Sugarcane is a major source of sugar, so optimizing it can be a great way to increase sugar production.
Researchers say sugarcane is the most complex plant of all, making it difficult to improve through conventional breeding. CRISPR was used to improve the sugarcane gene. The team thought this would be an effective solution.
The new paper, published in Plant Biotechnology Journal, explains how they used CRISPR/Cas9 to adjust leaf angle. This study focused on LIGULELESS1, also known as LG1, which is a key gene in sugarcane leaf angle. Sugarcane was able to absorb more light thanks to these genetic changes. This in turn helped the plant grow.
Fredy Altpeter is the leader of the research team and professor of agronomy at the University of Florida. He said that we had mutated some copies of some candy canes published by LG1. We were then able to customize the leaf structure until we reached the ideal angle, which resulted in an increase in biomass yield.
The team found that when growing sugarcane in the field, the erect leaf phenotypes allowed more light into the canopy. This led to a larger factory. One sugarcane variety in particular showed an increase of 18 % in its dry biomass.
This team also noted that this method of supporting crop growth could help reduce future fertilizer requirements, which have been criticized in recent years. Researchers and farmers will also be able to improve their approach to crop improvement by gaining a better understanding of genetics.
Altpeter explained that this is the first publication describing a CRISPR field trial. This work shows that the genomes of polyploid crops can be modified to fine-tune specific traits.
What is the controversy surrounding fertilizers?
The Soil Association says excessive use of fertilizer can lead to nitrogen pollution. This happens when nitrogen compounds such as ammonia or nitrogen dioxide become too abundant.
The United Nations has warned of the health risks of inefficient and excessive fertilizer use, saying it can lead to problems such as "contamination of drinking water, eutrophication and eutrophication of areas coastal”. The UN also said some fertilizers could "impact human life due to unsafe storage techniques."
How can sugar cane yields be improved for the benefit of manufacturers?
Sugar cane and sugar beet producers continue to increase their production. The fight against climate changeThe implications of increased sugarcane production are obvious…increased supply stability and lower costs. Manufacturers and consumers would benefit, as they have faced rising prices over the past decade.
Source: In highly polyploid sugarcane, the extent of co-editing of LIGULELESS1 with other genes adjusts leaf angle. This allows the selection of ideotypes for biomass yield.
Publication date: May 22, 2024
DOI: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/pbi.14380
Authors: Eleanor J. Brant, Ayman Eid, Baskaran Kannan, Mehmet Cengiz Baloglu, Fredy Altpeter
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