The Uttar Pradesh Sugar Mills Association (UPSMA) and Greentech Consultants are co-hosting a global conference titled 'Future Ready Sugar Industry: Pathway for Sustainable Growth' in Lucknow during May 21-22, 2026. According to reports from Business Standard, the two-day event is taking place amid growing concerns over global energy and food security linked to the ongoing West Asia crisis. The conference will review the current status of sugarcane development and the sugar industry in Uttar Pradesh, which is India's largest sugarcane, sugar, and ethanol-producing state.
The conference will witness participation from overseas experts and major sugar-producing countries such as Thailand, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Egypt, the UK, the US, Germany, South Africa, and the Philippines. As reported by Business Standard, experts from leading Indian sugarcane-producing states will also attend the technical sessions focusing on policy, technology, and market-related dimensions. Prof Narendra Mohan, former director of the National Sugar Institute, emphasized that the sector is currently facing both opportunities and challenges, making it important to review long-term strategies for sugarcane development and the sugar industry.
According to Anand Mahurkar, Founder and CEO of Findability Sciences, AI is set to transform India's sugar and ethanol industry through satellite-driven farm insights, predictive recovery models, and AI-enabled mill operations. As reported by ChiniMandi, mills that embrace AI solutions early will significantly enhance sugar recovery processes, reduce steam consumption, and optimize feedstock allocation. On a 10,000 TCD operation, early AI adoption can translate to tens of crores per season, with mills gaining half a percent to a full percent of additional recovery and several percent of additional ethanol yield. The technology addresses critical operational gaps including variable cane maturity, outdated processing setpoints, and sub-optimal trade-offs between sugar, ethanol, and power exports.
The conference takes place as India has imposed a complete ban on sugar exports till September 2026 to safeguard domestic supply, control inflation, and prepare for future risks from El Niño, fertilizer disruptions, and declining sugar stocks. As reported by Business Standard, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has issued a notification placing the export of all categories of sugar (raw, white, and refined) under the 'Prohibited' category with immediate effect until 30th September 2026. This regulatory intervention marks a strategic shift from quantitative restrictions to a total freeze on outbound shipments, driven by cascading geopolitical and agro-climatic vulnerabilities. The ban highlights deeper structural issues in India's sugar sector, including water stress, pricing distortions (FRP-SAP), cane arrears, and the growing importance of ethanol blending and bioenergy as long-term solutions.
An Expo Zone will showcase innovative products, technologies, and services spanning the sugar, bio-energy, and allied sectors, apart from products based on sustainable bioplastics. As reported by Business Standard, the event aims to provide a platform for industry stakeholders to discuss the future roadmap of the sugarcane sector that supplies not only sugar but also ethanol for petrol blending. The conference reflects the sector's focus on sustainable growth and technological advancement in the current global energy landscape, with the event specifically organized to discuss the future of the sugar and bioenergy sectors amid the ongoing West Asia crisis and India's strategic export ban.
