Australia and DuPont jointly develop genetically modified sugarcane crops

According to Australia domestic media reports, Australia sugar industry's main research department-Australia Sugar Testing Bureau (BSES) and DuPont signed a multi-million dollar cooperation agreement, the two sides have received Australia new Zealand gene technology management and food standards office preliminary stage approval, will be in Queensland less than two hectares of farmland for transgenic sugarcane trials, the next five years estimated cost of 25 million US dollars.

Even if the trials go well, the director of BSES said, GM sugarcane will not be available until the next decade at the earliest. Genetically modified sugarcane takes at least seven to eight years before it becomes commercially available. Genetically modified sugarcane could be the next genetically modified crop approved in Australia.

Australia produces 33 million tons of sugar cane annually, about 85% of which is exported overseas, making sugar cane the second largest export product of Australia, second only to wheat.

Sugar cane prices have risen to $500 a tonne this year because of a global shortage of white sugar.

Sugar cane production in Australia is expected to reach US $1.6 billion this year and US $2 billion next year.