A new international collaborative project, ‘SWEET SUCCESS: Driving net zero transition by accelerating bio-energy (sugarcane) production in South Africa’ is looking at increasing industrial-scale production of bioenergy.
This groundbreaking project led by AgriSound in collaboration with the UK Agri-Tech Centre and GYO Systems is addressing energy production challenges in South Africa by boosting sugarcane growth. This initiative will look at enhancing renewable energy generation through improved crop pest monitoring and novel hydroponic technologies.
Funded by Innovate UK, the project will receive over £200,000 funding from the African Innovation Collaborations for Net Zero Places.
The project will explore increasing sugarcane production in urban areas unsuitable for housing or food cultivation by introducing affordable hydroponic technologies. Focusing on Camperdown, KwaZulu-Natal, it aims to benefit underserved communities by providing inclusive and accessible training on these technologies.
Furthermore, AgriSound will use the innovative ‘Polly’ insect listening device to help farmers and growers manage pests like the Eldana Stalk Borer. This technology will generate data that supports sustainable and nature-based sugarcane farming, improving yields within current production areas without affecting other land uses.
