India’s sugar industry is entering a new era—leaner, smarter, and firmly aligned with the country’s clean energy ambitions.
This tone for a sweeping transformation in India’s sugar sector was set by Indian Sugar & Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) at the inaugural edition of SugarNXT 2026—a high-powered two-day conclave underscoring how technology and innovation are rapidly redefining the industry’s economics.
Bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, and technology experts, the event signalled a decisive shift: India’s sugar industry is no longer just about production—it is pivoting toward efficiency, digital intelligence, and bio-energy leadership.
The conclave was inaugurated by Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary, Department of Food & Public Distribution, with Ashwini Srivastava, Joint Secretary (Sugar), as Guest of Honour. Across sessions, a clear message emerged—future competitiveness will hinge on smarter processes, lower energy use, and real-time data-driven decision-making.
Chopra said: "Over the past decade, the Indian sugar industry has demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability, transforming itself into a key pillar of the country’s bio-energy ecosystem.
"The successful implementation of the 20% ethanol blending programme at an unprecedented scale has resulted in crude oil savings of nearly Rs. 1.65 lakh crore an achievement that reflects not just policy support, but the proactive and responsive approach of the industry.
"Going forward, the focus must be on closing efficiency gaps at the plant level, improving real-time data utilisation, and accelerating process optimisation. Platforms like SugarNXT are important in driving this next phase of transformation by fostering innovation and strengthening collaboration between industry, academia, and technology providers.”
Industry leaders echoed the urgency of this transition, framing it as a structural reset rather than incremental change.
Niraj Shirgaokar, President, ISMA, said, “The Indian sugar industry is undergoing a structural shift from a cyclical commodity sector to a more stable and diversified bio-energy ecosystem. As expectations from the sector grow, the focus must now be on improving cost competitiveness and unlocking greater value from every part of the production cycle.
"Technology and byproduct valorisation will be central to this transition, and platforms like SugarNXT are critical in accelerating industry-wide adoption of these next-generation practices.”
Driving home the execution challenge, Deepak Ballani, Director General, ISMA, emphasized that the next growth phase will depend on how effectively mills adopt and implement these changes on the ground.
“The next phase of growth for the sugar industry will be driven by execution, how effectively mills can optimise operations, leverage data for real-time decision-making, and reduce energy and water intensity. SugarNXT has been designed to focus on this ‘how’, bringing practical, implementable solutions that can improve recovery, minimise downtime, and deliver measurable gains in efficiency at the plant level.”
Experts at the conclave demonstrated how cutting-edge tools—ranging from automation and artificial intelligence to real-time process control—are already delivering tangible gains. Mills are reducing steam and energy consumption, boosting sugar recovery, minimizing downtime, and extracting higher value from byproducts.
Energy efficiency emerged as a central battleground, with a focus on advanced evaporation systems, heat integration, and efficient cogeneration—critical levers in lowering costs and improving margins.
The event also mapped out a full-spectrum transformation roadmap, spanning the entire production chain—from cane preparation and juice extraction to crystallisation and intelligent plant operations—pointing toward a digitally enabled, cost-efficient, and future-ready sugar ecosystem.
