China and Brazil have maintained exchanges and technological co-operation in the sugarcane sector for more than a decade, capitalising on the complementary strengths of the two countries. Brazil has well-established expertise in large-scale production, mechanisation, plantation management and industrial processing, while China has capabilities in basic research and intelligent genetic improvement.

The co-operation began in 2013 with joint studies on biomass conversion technologies for tropical energy crops, including sugarcane. As part of the project, the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences established stable co-operation channels with 11 Brazilian research institutions, including the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) and the University of Brasília.

The collaboration is now expanding into precision breeding technologies. During a visit to Sanya, in China’s Hainan Province, in June, Massimiliano César de Barros Júnior, Chief Executive Officer of CTC – Centro de Tecnologia Canavieira, highlighted the efficiency of Chinese techniques and expressed interest in establishing a stable, long-term relationship with Chinese research institutions.

According to Wang Jungang, an associate researcher at the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, China could benefit from Brazil’s experience in sugarcane cultivation, management and processing. In turn, Chinese technologies aimed at increasing sugarcane yields and sugar content could help boost Brazilian sugar production.

(Source: Xinhua Português, 21 August)