History of Sugarcane Utilization in Miyako Island - 1996 to 2020s

History of Sugarcane Utilization in Miyako Island - 1996 to 2020s

In 1996, the utilization of sugarcane residue (bagasse) was promoted on Miyako Island, and a plant was planned to process approximately 1,000 tons per year. Miyako Sugar and Oji Paper collaborated to develop a plan to reuse the bagasse as pulp and fertilizer, and by the 2020s, the sugar mill was processing about 300,000 tons of sugarcane per year, with about 90,000 tons of bagasse as a byproduct used as fuel and compost. This effort has resulted in an annual reduction of approximately 50,000 tons of carbon dioxide and an increase in sugarcane yield of more than 10%. Miyakojima City is working to further develop the technology and build a sustainable regional model.