Industry pins hope on 'healthier' sugar

16/03/09

Published by: ABC News
by: Darren Nelson

The Queensland sugar industry is hoping for a major resurgence with the launch today of a new and healthier form of sugar product known as LoGiCane.

Melbourne company Horizon Science and the Mossman Sugar Mill, north of Cairns, have produced the world's first low-glycemic sugar - which they say can be used to reduce diabetes, obesity and blood pressure.

Horizon Science chief executive officer Dr Barry Kitchen says the technology has great export potential.

"We've got to get .... everything right first in Australia, demonstrate that the retail product is acceptable and people love it," he said.

"We'll move into more industrial larger volumes of sugar that can be used by food manufacturers and with all that happening obviously we'll be talking and seeing what we can do internationally."