Value Addition and Product Diversification in Sugarcane

Suresha. G. S Graduated from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, India. He did his Ph.D. at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi in the discipline of Biochemistry. Presently, he has been working as a senior scientist at ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore for the past 14 years. He has published >70 articles which include research papers, book chapters, conference proceedings, popular articles, technical bulletins etc. He has developed and disclosed 8 novel innovative value-added technologies such as the production of freeze-dried and spray-dried sugarcane juice powder, cane jam, liquid jaggery, cane dietary fibre food products, frozen sugarcane juice-based value-added products, and cane wine. He has filed 2 patents on cane jam technology and technology on Bt-62 biopesticide formulation. Dr. Suresha was awarded with Indo-Australian Career Boosting Gold Fellowship (IACBGF) in the year 2013 from Department of Biotechnology Govt. of India, Early Career Research award in the year 2017 from Department of Science and Technology (DST)-Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) Govt. of India and ICAR-SBI Foundation Day award 2023 under scientific category in recognition of outstanding contribution at ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore. He is a life member of the Society for Sugarcane Research and Development and the Society for Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology.

Gopalareddy. K Scientist, ICAR-SBI, Coimbatore completed his Bachelor’s degree during 2006 and Master’s degree during 2008 from UAS, Bangalore, and Doctorate degree in Genetics from ICAR-IARI, New Delhi during 2016. Dr. Reddy developed 17 wheat varieties and 29 wheat genetic stocks to benefit multitude stakeholders including farmers, consumers, researchers, and industry. His research is largely focused on the development of high-yielding wheat varieties with improved quality attributes. Dr. Reddy utilized modern breeding tools like genomic selection, MARS, MAS, and GWAS to complement conventional breeding techniques to dissect complex traits in wheat. He has published more than 50 research and review articles of national and international repute with high-impact journals, 5 books, 40 book chapters, and 50 technical or popular articles. Dr. Reddy was conferred with the Nanaji Deshmukh Award, AIASA Young Scientist Award 2020, Best Worker 2020, NEEDEF Young Scientist Award 2021, and Dr. VS Mathur Memorial Award 2022.

Murali. P graduated from TNAU, Coimbatore, post-graduation and Ph.D. at NDRI, Karnal. He has more than 15 years of experience in sugarcane economics and is currently an officer in charge of the Sugarcane Agribusiness Centre. He is working on impact assessment and cost and returns, techno-economic feasibility studies on value-added technologies at the institute, and studies on the impact of sugarcane varieties developed by the Institute. He has published more than 30 publications and filed four patents and two trademarks. He is a national facilitator for the National Institute of Agricultural Marketing, a member of the Core Research Group-Impact assessment of ICAR Technologies, Officer in charge of the Agricultural Knowledge Management Unit, Nodal Officer-KRISHI Portal, AEBAS, Consulting Editor- Sugar Tech- Springer (India). He is a life member of Agricultural Economics and Research Review, New Delhi, Indian Society of Coastal Agricultural Research, Kolkata, Society for Sugarcane Research and Promotion and Society for Sugarcane Research and Development.

Mahadeva Swamy. H. K graduated from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, Master’s degree from GBPUA&T, Pantnagar, and Doctoral degree from PJTSAU, Telangana. He has more than 30 peer-reviewed publications and has delivered oral and poster presentations in international meetings. Contributed in the development of low soil P tolerance, and BLB-resistant rice in the background of Improved Samba Mahsuri. He is presently working on molecular markers, pre-breeding, and development of improved varieties of sugarcane. He was awarded the Young Scientist Award by Bharatiya Sugars in 2021.

Hari. K presently serving as principal scientist and Officer in-charge of intellectual property and technology management unit at ICAR-SBI, completed master’s degree from TNAU, Coimbatore and Doctorate from ICAR-IARI, New Delhi. He is involved in the development of many technologies including soil moisture indicator, spray, and freeze-dried sugarcane juice. His major areas of interest are biofertilizers, biocontrol agents, water conservation, biofuel, value added products from sugarcane. He has published over 80 research articles in reputed journals, over 150 popular, book chapters and other publications. He has filed 10 Indian patents and four designs. He has received Sir Venkataraman award 2011, won the First prize in the Best Research / Innovation / Adoption of New Technology for Water Conservation category in the National Water Awards 2019 by Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India, Winner of TERI-IWA-UNDP Water Sustainability Award 2021 - Excellence in water use efficiency in Agricultural Sector in 2022 among others.

Hemaprabha. G has over 35 years of experience in sugarcane and presently serving as Director ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore, India. She has completed her Ph.D. at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India. Being specialized in Genetics and Plant Breeding, she has developed 26 sugarcane varieties. She published more than 70 research articles, 17 books, and presented over 160 articles in seminars/symposia and 56 manuals/book chapters/pamphlets. She is a fellow of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), the Society for Sugarcane Research and Development and Society for Sugar Research and Promotion. She is the recipient of the Sir T. S. Venkatraman Award for outstanding research in Sugarcane Agriculture.