Global Spotlight On Queensland Cane

By Owen Menkens, CANEGROWERS Chairman

Cairns has taken on a sweet international flavour this week, with grower reps, policymakers and sugar industry experts from across the globe touching down for a major international conference.

It’s the first time in almost two decades that Australia has hosted the World Association of Beet and Cane Growers (WABCG), so it’s more than just a feather in the cap – it’s a rare chance to put Queensland cane on the world stage.

Over three days, we’re getting stuck into the big topics – trade, climate, bioenergy, and the future of farming.

And while cane and beet are very different crops, grown in different conditions, the challenges and ambitions of growers around the world are surprisingly similar – including dealing with government regulations and concerns about international markets.

But it’s not all meeting rooms and keynote speeches. Delegates are out in the paddock too, seeing firsthand how cane is grown in the far north – where GPS tech, efficient irrigation and reef-safe practices are just part of the job. For many, it will be a real eye-opener.

And it couldn’t come at a better time. Here in Queensland, there’s fresh energy behind the idea that cane can power more than just our mills.

The Crisafulli Government has announced a parliamentary inquiry into how sugarcane could drive a new wave of clean energy – think electricity from bagasse and biofuels made from juice and molasses, including the kind of aviation fuel global airlines are crying out for.

These aren’t just concepts on a whiteboard. They’re proven technologies. What we need now is the right policy settings to scale them up and give investors the confidence to back them.

There’s a lot at stake – but also a lot to be excited about. A strong, modern cane industry means regional jobs, export income, and solutions to some of the world’s biggest energy problems.

The WABCG conference wraps up this week, but the ideas and connections made here could help shape what comes next.

Let’s hope the right people are paying attention.

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