Sugar Institute maintains contributions to Cuban economy

Havana, May 23 (Prensa Latina) The Icidca (Cuban Institute for Research on Sugar Cane Derivatives), tasked with researching diversification of the sugar agribusiness, was founded by then-Minister of Industry Ernesto “Che” Guevara back in 1963, and continues to contribute to the national economy.

According to experts, some of the most important and innovative lines of ICIDCA are the development of bioproducts and biofertilizers, which are very necessary for the increase of agricultural production.

According to sources in this sector, Cuba was able to obtain renewable energy, animal feed, as well as a wide range of types of alcohol and rum, board, sorbitol, candies, refined wax, glucose, fructose syrup, drugs, biofertilizers and biopesticides from the use of sugar cane.

The general director of Icidca, Mariela Gallardo, highlighted in a recent interview with Prensa Latina that the center resumed lines of work with the reincorporation of the sugar research activity conducted by the Institute, associated with the study of sugar production and pulp and paper from sugarcane bagasse.

In Gallardo’s words, Icidca’s research projects are focused on topics that respond to the most immediate problems related to the country’s economic and social priorities, such as health, food, renewable energy, computerization systems and exports.

The main research projects are focused on the development of new bioproducts or more effective mixtures of them, with the use of by-products of the sugar production process, and on perfecting wax manufacturing technologies and expanding the use of their by-products, as well as in the integration of technologies to increase the energy efficiency of sugar production processes and other derivatives.

Works are also conducted on studies to increase the flexibility and technological and functional integration of the sugar mills with the production of derivatives, and to obtain new products and technologies to increase added value.