Sugar Mills Need to Evolve into Integrated Biorefineries: ISBC 2026

The Indian sugar industry needs to move beyond conventional sugar and ethanol production and evolve into integrated biorefineries that maximise value from sugarcane and its by-products, policymakers and industry leaders said at the India Sugar & Bio-Energy Conference (ISBC) 2026.

The two-day conference, organised by the Indian Sugar & Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) in New Delhi on September 9-10, brought together more than 500 delegates and over 50 global speakers from India, Thailand, Brazil, Europe and the United States.

Tarun Kapoor, Advisor to the Prime Minister, said sugar mills should increasingly be viewed as integrated bio-refineries rather than standalone sugar and ethanol production units. He emphasised the need to maximise economic value from sugarcane and its various co-products and by-products.

Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Secretary, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, said the industry had evolved from traditional sugar production towards integrated biorefineries capable of generating value from multiple streams of the sugarcane value chain.

The conference focused on the expanding role of the sugar sector in India's energy security, ethanol blending, clean mobility, circular manufacturing and sustainable industrial growth. Ashwini Srivastava, Joint Secretary, Department of Food and Public Distribution, said the future performance of sugar mills should be assessed not merely by sugar output but by their efficiency in using cane and generating value from by-products, including the value reaching the rural economy.

Discussions covered the global sugar outlook, India's 2026/27 crop and trade prospects, clean mobility and the transition in liquid fuels. Participants also examined the future of sugar, bio-refineries, biofuels and allied value chains. A CEOs Leadership Summit brought policymakers and senior industry executives together to discuss competitiveness, strategic direction and long-term growth opportunities.

ISMA President Niraj Shirgaokar said the sugar industry had evolved from a traditional commodity sector into an integrated bio-refinery ecosystem contributing to energy security, rural prosperity and sustainable growth. He called for policy support, technology adoption and stronger collaboration to accelerate this transformation.

Mr. Deepak Ballani, Director General, ISMA, said, “ISBC 2026 has highlighted the significant opportunities emerging beyond traditional sugar and ethanol production, from diversified bio-refineries and Sustainable Aviation Fuel to modernised agriculture and circular economy solutions.”

The conference also highlighted opportunities beyond conventional sugar and ethanol, including diversified biorefineries, Sustainable Aviation Fuel, modernised agriculture and circular-economy solutions. An accompanying industry Expo showcased sugar and bio-energy technologies, including Flex Fuel vehicles from Hero and Toyota.

The conference concluded with an emphasis on innovation, competitiveness and greater value creation across India's sugar and bio-energy ecosystem through sustained collaboration among government, industry and technology providers.