Sugary talks set for Bundy

Bundaberg Chamber of Commerce president Ron Bishop is excited for the annual Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologist conference to be held in Bundaberg.

BUNDABERG will get a little sweeter in May when the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologist (ASSCT) conference rolls into town.

Held at the Moncrieff Theatre, the Anglican Parish Hall and the Bundaberg Civic Centre, the four-day event will see cane growers discussing the latest in genetically modified sugar cane.

ASSCT conference president Mike Cox said the group had planned for about 350 delegates to attend the event.

“Genetic modification certainly has the potential; it has been the fastest adopted cane technology,” he said.

Dr Cox said genetic engineering was looking closer every day.

“The first thing we’re looking at is herbicide tolerance. There are some chemicals which are not soft chemicals and we’re looking at a way to change the cane so softer chemicals can be used,” he said.

As well as extensive talks about genetic modification, Dr Cox said the results of the past seven years of research by the Cooperative Research Centre for Sugar Industry Innovation through Biotechnology would be revealed.

Bundaberg Chamber of Commerce president Ron Bishop said holding the event in Bundaberg would be quite a coup for the region.

“On average, people spend $30 a day when visiting and that’s not including travel, so that’s quite a bit,” he said.

“I think it is great people are making Bundaberg a meeting place for events such as this.”

The conference will take place from May 11 to 14.