Cane plan prospects sweetening

6:00a.m. 24th March 2007

By ALAN LANDER COW candy company Biocane has finally captured the full attention and investments of Coast cane farmers.

The sweet bovine treats the company makes from sugar cane are now in huge demand on Korean and Japanese farms even a domestic market is showing signs of developing and despite the Maryborough Sugar Company (MSC) advertising for Coast cane to be sent for processing up there, the majority of cane farmers are now coming on board with Biocane.

Despite falling prices for sugar in the background, Nambour-based Biocane is entering stage three of its development, with full production just around the corner and the farmers are signing up for quotas in droves.

Bli Bli cane farmer Rob Price said he would still send some cane to Maryborough this year, as well as Biocane.

But (Maryborough is) not financially viable, he said.

We sent some last year; there are still quite a few farmers involved up there.

But now farmers have proposed to buy a lot more quota shares in Biocane before they miss out. Its an opportunity not to be missed.

Sunshine Coast Canegrowers Association co-director and Cooroy cane farmer Tom Kennedy said some growers would be interested in the Maryborough offer, as they were last year but hes not.

Im not interested personally, he said.

Im going into Biocane, its a local industry and I will support it.

He said poorer quality, weed infested cane could be sent to the Maryborough mill if they burn it.

But bad cane is no good for Biocane, he said.

Biocanes chairman Scott Grimley said he had no problems with cane being sent north.