On Wednesday, April 23, 2025, the Audubon Sugar Institute hosted its annual Factory Seminar at the LSU Sugar Research Station in St. Gabriel, LA. The event brought together around 60 factory staff from across Louisiana to hear the latest research findings from ASI and LSU researchers, aimed at improving factory operations, sustainability, and product quality.

Presentations covered a range of timely and impactful topics, including:

• Raw sugar color variability and color reduction strategies
• Molasses survey results and factory benchmarking
• Mini nutches and new amylases for improved clarification and starch control
• Machine learning applications in NIR calibrations
• Sustainable geopolymer materials from bagasse waste
• Sugarcane-derived nanobiocides and bio-flocculants

The seminar continues to serve as a valuable platform for industry-academia collaboration and knowledge exchange to support innovation in Louisiana’s sugar industry.