How cane sugar is produced
Queensland's raw sugar is produced from sugar cane. Sugar cane is a giant tropical grass, being one of a large family of grasses which include other crops such as barley, wheat, rice and maize. Sugar is made in the leaves of the sugar cane plant by a natural process called photosynthesis.

Raw sugar is produced from milling and processing sugar cane. In Australia, sugar cane is grown mainly along the 2,100 kilometre stretch of coastline between Mossman in north Queensland and Grafton in northern New South Wales. There is also a small industry in the Ord district of Western Australia. Most of Australia's cane lands are situated within 50 kilometres of the coastline, with approximately 90% grown in Queensland.

Sugar cane grows for 10 - 18 months before being harvested. Mature sugar cane stands 2 - 4 metres high and is usually harvested between June and December using mechanical harvesting machines. Growers take the harvested cane to a delivery point on or near their farm from which the sugar mill that services their district transports it to the mill for crushing. Although there are 24 mills in Queensland, each farm is allocated to a specific mill with cane being supplied to the mill either under an individual agreement between the mill and the grower, or under a collective agreement negotiated for growers for the particular mill area. There are 22 mill areas : Babinda, Bundaberg (Bingera and Millaquin), Farleigh, Herbert River (Macknade and Victoria), Invicta, Inkerman, Isis, Kalamia, Marian, Maryborough, Mossman, Mourilyan, Mulgrave, Pioneer, Plane Creek, Pleystowe, Proserpine, Racecourse, Rocky Point, South Johnstone, Tableland and Tully. The Moreton Mill, situated at Nambour, closed in December 2003 and the Fairymead Mill, in Bundaberg, closed February 2005.

There are a number of oganisations that service the Queensland sugar industry. Some of these are listed in the Links section of the website.

Sugar and Nutrition
Sucrose (commonly called sugar) is a type of carbohydrate obtained mainly from sugar cane. Sugar (sucrose) is a natural combination of fructose and glucose and is one of a wide variety of carbohydrates in human diets which provide energy for all body cells. Carbohydrates (including starches and all types of sugars) are the body's preferred energy source, providing fuel for everyday functioning as well as the needs of exercise. All are broken down during digestion to simple sugars, the most common of which is glucose.

There have been many misconceptions about sugar in the past but the facts are that sugar is a carbohydrate, and a moderate amount of sugars and foods containing added sugars are compatible with good health. A well balanced diet containing a variety of foods, which supply the human body with a balance of carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, fibre and water will assist to promote good health. Find out more about the role of sugar in a healthy well-balanced diet from The Sugar Forum.

Additional information on sugar and nutrition is also available from the World Sugar Organisation.