Reduction of Sugar Loss Due to Cut-to-mill Delay by the Application of a Unique New Chemical Composition Called Sucroguard

In India, the loss of sucrose content in cane as a result of ‘cut-to-mill’ delays can be extremely high during the summer months. A novel chemical formulation, Sucroguard, developed and patented in India, was tested to determine its effectiveness in controlling post-harvest cane deterioration. Results showed that a 10 ppm dose reduced invert sugars and tiratable sugars in primary juice, and reduced the total mesophilic bacterial count by 50%. It was found that the use of Sucroguard could result in a net benefit per million tons of cane of US$720 000.