Sugarcane, also known as sugar cane, is a tall, perennial grass that is used for sugar production. It belongs to the grass family, Poaceae, which includes other economically important plants such as maize, wheat, rice, and sorghum. Sugarcane is native to the warm temperate and tropical regions of India, Southeast Asia, and New Guinea. It is a giant tropical grass that can grow up to 6 meters tall and has stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sucrose, which accumulates in the stalk internodes. Sugarcane is the worlds largest crop by production quantity, totaling 1.9 billion tonnes in 2020, with Brazil accounting for 40% of the world total. Sugarcane accounts for 79% of sugar produced globally, with most of the rest made from sugar beets.
Sugarcane is not only used for sugar production but also for other purposes. For example, the plant mass it produces can be converted into energy, combustible material, charcoal, or biofuel. Sugarcane also contains a wealth of molecules for the chemicals industry. Additionally, the by-products from cane sugar processing, namely the straw and bagasse (cane fibers), can be used to produce cellulosic ethanol, a second-generation biofuel.
Sugarcane is a tropical grass that grows 10-20 feet high and is perennial, meaning it doesnt need to be replanted every year. When harvested, sugar cane is cut just above the root level so new sprouts will grow, ready to be harvested again in 10-12 months. Sugarcane is similar to bamboo and has strong, jointed, fibrous stalks that store carbohydrates in the form of various sugars. Sugar is made in the leaves of the sugarcane plant through a process called photosynthesis and is stored as juice in the stalks.
