Hardev S Sandhu
Agronomy Department, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Everglades Research and Education Center, 3200 East Palm Beach Road, Belle Glade, Florida 33430, USA;
The International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists (ISSCT) Agriculture Commission Workshop, held from 19 to 22 August 2024 in Pattaya, Thailand, focused on advancing agricultural engineering and agronomy practices within the global sugarcane industry. Under the theme Towards BCG (Bio-Circular-Green) Economy: Smart Farm to Drive Economic Recovery and Sustainable Sugarcane Industries, the workshop brought together experts to address critical challenges and innovations in climate-smart agriculture, precision farming, and sustainable mechanization. The workshop was attended by 112 participants from 16 sugarcane producing countries around the world. The scientific program featured diverse sessions addressing key challenges and innovations in sugarcane farming, including crop management, climate resilience, irrigation, agricultural engineering, and weed control. Research from various countries highlighted practices like intercropping, precise nutrient and irrigation management, and advanced technology integration such as UAVs, machine learning, and digital platform, to improve sustainability and productivity. A field trip further reinforced the theoretical insights with practical demonstrations at Kubota Farm and TSP Metal Works. The workshop fostered valuable collaboration and knowledge exchange, contributing significantly to the pursuit of sustainable and resilient sugarcane production systems.