eRcane – Advancing Sustainable Sugarcane Through R&D and Industrial Innovation

At the ISSCT Congress 2025, eRcane—the Réunion-based Research Centre—stood out for its commitment to driving genetic, industrial, and biorefinery innovation in the sugarcane sector. A trusted authority for nearly a century, eRcane offers a unique blend of agronomic variety development and processing optimization that empowers sugarcane industries toward sustainability and efficiency.

Dual Expertise: From Cane Breeding to Industrial Processing

• Agronomy & Variety Development
  eRcane innovates through its Plant Breeding and Cropping Techniques departments, generating high-yielding, disease-tolerant sugarcane varieties (like R570, R579) that thrive under diverse agro-climatic conditions. Several varieties are commercially grown beyond Réunion.
• Sugar Processing & Innovation
  The Industrial Processing & Innovation division offers pioneering research in sugar recovery, process enhancement, and green chemistry. Its Emile Hugot Laboratory—ISO 9001 certified since 2019—performs over 40 industrial-grade analyses per week, supporting the island’s two mills and clients across Africa, Brazil, and the West Indies.

Leading Projects & the Biorefinery Vision

eRcane actively participates in high-impact R&D initiatives, pairing sugarcane valorization with sustainability:

• V2ARUN (2006–2010): extraction of organic molecules from sugarcane for bioplastic production.
• Lignophenols (2009–2011): exploring bagasse components for bio-based chemical alternatives.
• Valophen, natuRcane, and MC3B: identifying antioxidants, developing bagasse-based composites, and enabling green chemistry routes.

Why eRcane’s Presence at ISSCT Matters

• 360° research capacity: Covering varietal innovation to downstream processing, eRcane uniquely bridges laboratory insight with industrial application.
• Certified analytical excellence: Its ISO-certified laboratory offers reliable, calibrated analysis foundational to process decisions and quality control.
• Biorefinery ambition: eRcane inspires sugarcane industries toward integrated economic models—from sugar and energy to chemicals and agro-bioproducts.

Contact eRcane – Réunion Research Centre

Address:
29 Rue d’Emmerez de Charmoy, BP 60315, 97494 Sainte Clotilde Cedex, Réunion (France)

Phone: (+262) 262 28 21 29
Fax: (+262) 262 29 05 07
Email: contact@ercane.re
Website: www.ercane.re