Politicians travel the Burdekin to discuss the future of the cane industry
The future of the sugar cane industry was brought to a fore when growers met with federal and state politicians in a whistlestop tour of the district on Tuesday.
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The future of the sugar cane industry was brought to a fore when growers met with federal and state politicians in a whistlestop tour of the district on Tuesday.
Agriculture Minister David Littleproud, Dawson MP George Christensen and Burdekin MP Dale Last heard from growers who were pushing to nurture the future of bioplastics and biofuels by using tops and trash of sugar cane.
Canegrowers Burdekin chairman Phil Marano said while a move to bioplastics and biofuels would spell the end of the district’s iconic cane fires, he would not miss it.
“I would like nothing more than to not have to burn,” he said. “There is a whole range of emerging opportunities for cane that we just need research and funds … and more importantly when something looks like it does have legs that we can get it to commercial stage.”
Mr Littleproud provided reassurance that innovation was supported.
Originally published as Politicians travel the Burdekin to discuss the future of the cane industry