Sugarcane Breeding Policies and Innovations: Thailand’s Sugar Industry Development Plan Toward Sustainability, 2026

Global climate change has had a clear impact on Thailand since 2015. From 2015 to the present, global temperatures have risen by 1.5°C, contributing to the more frequent alternation of El Niño and La Niña phenomena. This directly affects the agricultural yields of many crops, particularly sugarcane, which has an average harvest cycle of 12 months and is therefore highly sensitive to climate fluctuations. For instance, drought conditions occurring during the elongation phase of sugarcane can reduce yields by 20–50%. Rising temperatures also influence the outbreak of sugarcane pests, which can appear from the tillering phase through to maturity one. Conversely, La Niña conditions bring excessive rainfall, and areas with high humidity are prone to fungal and bacterial diseases, while low-lying areas may experience waterlogging, which can stunt sugarcane growth.

According to a survey by the Office of the Cane and Sugar Board (OCSB), Ministry of Industry, in the 2025/26 production year, the white leaf disease outbreak affected approximately 592,000 rai of sugarcane in Thailand. The Northeastern region was the most severely impacted, with around 579,000 rai (98%) affected, marking it as the heaviest outbreak in several decades. The outbreak was driven by the rapid increase of insect vectors in the area, coupled with sudden climate fluctuations, which caused sugarcane already infected with the white leaf disease pathogen (Phytoplasma) to experience stress and more readily exhibit disease symptoms. If more than 50% of a plantation is affected by white leaf disease, sugarcane yields can decline by 20–40%.

Currently, it is estimated that about 300,000 sugarcane farmers in Thailand cultivate the Khon Kaen 3 variety. Nationally, Khon Kaen 3 accounts for 96% of planted sugarcane, and this variety has been in use for over 17 years (officially registered in 2008). Relying on a single variety over a long period poses significant risks, increasing the likelihood of disease and pest outbreaks in sugarcane production. Recognizing this, OCSB emphasizes the importance of developing new sugarcane varieties to replace older ones. Key desired traits include high yield, good sugar quality, and strong resistance to diseases and pests. OCSB has played a central role in sugarcane breeding and improvement, supporting the growth of Thailand’s sugarcane and sugar industry for over 45 years.

Thailand Sugarcane Breeding Center

Currently, the OCSB has established the Thailand Sugarcane Breeding Center (TSBC) at the Cane and Sugar Industry Promotion Center Region 1 in Kanchanaburi. The center was founded under OCSB’s Good Sugarcane Variety Development and Expansion Project, which began in FY 2015. The TSBC has developed its own technology, innovations, and infrastructure, all by Thai experts, enabling faster and more precise sugarcane breeding. Modern technological systems have been implemented to support the process. Furthermore, the center collaborates closely with government agencies, sugar mills, and sugarcane farmers, fostering coordinated efforts in sugarcane variety development. This cooperation aims to ensure the sustainability of sugarcane production and Thailand’s sugar industry. OCSB’s objective is to develop TSBC into a hub of technology, innovation, and an academic network for sugarcane, serving farmers and all stakeholders in the sector.

Currently, TSBC possesses technology capable of collecting and preserving over 1,589 sugarcane germplasm lines from both domestic and international sources. These germplasm lines serve as parental material for OCSB’s sugarcane breeding programs. However, maintaining germplasm by planting sugarcane in fields often faces disease and pest challenges, which can compromise the collection. To address this, molecular biology technologies have been employed to preserve sugarcane germplasm in a new form: meristematic tissue culture. This method involves culturing the apical shoot meristem of sugarcane on synthetic Murashige and Skoog (MS) media under sterile, controlled in vitro conditions. The cultures are typically maintained in closed containers such as glass bottles or Petri dishes. This technique allows germplasm tissue to be preserved for up to six months, reduces the space required for germplasm maintenance, and can also be applied for rapid sugarcane propagation through tissue culture in the future.

Another technology that OCSB uses in sugarcane breeding is DNA fingerprinting, a scientific technique for genetic testing. This method identifies genetic profiles to determine family relationships, and can also accurately diagnose diseases and assess the genetic sugar quality of sugarcane varieties. Currently, the Cane and Sugar Industry Promotion Center Region 1 (Kanchanaburi), in collaboration with the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), applies DNA fingerprinting to guide parent selection for hybridization. This enables the development of sugarcane hybrids with desired traits more quickly and accurately, enhancing the efficiency of sugarcane breeding programs.

In sugarcane breeding at the OCSB, selecting varieties with high yield and sugar quality is essential, but disease resistance is also a critical trait. The Cane and Sugar Industry Promotion Center Region 3 (Chonburi) is responsible for testing disease resistance in sugarcane hybrids that demonstrate high yield and sugar quality before they undergo the plant registration process and promoted to farmers for cultivation. The two main diseases used for testing are Smut and Red Rot disease. According to OCSB surveys, during the 2025/26 production year, Smut affected approximately 10,000 rai nationwide. Currently, there are no reports of Red Rot outbreaks, as many of the sugarcane varieties in use today have good resistance to the disease. However, about 40 years ago, Red Rot disease outbreaks occurred in the Upper Central to Lower Northern regions, affecting roughly 300,000 rai.

Once sugarcane hybrids with high yield, superior sugar quality, and good disease resistance are developed, they are planted for yield testing to select the most suitable varieties for each region. In this process, farmers actively participate in selecting high-quality varieties through the Participatory Variety Selection (PVS) method. This approach gives farmers a key role in evaluating and selecting varieties that match local conditions and their specific needs, with the aim of increasing adoption of new varieties and promoting their practical and sustainable use.

These activities are conducted at OCSB’s regional units as follows: 

1. Cane and Sugar Industry Promotion Center Region 1 (Kanchanaburi) 

2. Sugarcane Experiment and Propagation Station Region 1 (Ang Thong) 

3. Cane and Sugar Industry Promotion Center Region 2 (Kamphaeng Phet) 

4. Sugarcane Experiment and Propagation Station Region 2 (Phichit) 

5. Cane and Sugar Industry Promotion Center Region 3 (Chonburi) 

6. Sugarcane Experiment and Propagation Station Region 3 (Nakhon Ratchasima) 

7. Cane and Sugar Industry Promotion Center Region 4 (Udon Thani) 

8. Sugarcane Experiment and Propagation Station Region 4 (Chaiyaphum) 

The Participatory Variety Selection (PVS) process consists of the following steps: 

1. Variety Selection: Farmers participate in the preliminary selection of sugarcane varieties that appear suitable for local conditions and have high yield potential. 

2. On-Farm Trials: The selected varieties are planted in farmers’ fields under real environmental conditions to evaluate their performance. 

3. Evaluation: Farmers help assess various traits of the sugarcane, including growth, yield, disease and pest resistance, sugar content, sugar quality, and ratooning ability. 

4. Joint Decision-Making: The evaluation data are reviewed collaboratively by breeders and farmers to select the most suitable varieties for commercial use. 
   
   

Benefits of Participatory Variety Selection (PVS) in Sugarcane: 

1. Increases adoption of new varieties: Farmers’ direct participation in evaluation builds confidence and makes them more likely to plant new varieties than if they were simply provided by researchers. 

2. Meets farmers’ needs: Evaluations conducted by farmers ensure that the selected varieties are well-suited to their local conditions and requirements. 

3. Promotes sustainable use: When farmers are involved in evaluation and decision-making, they develop a sense of ownership, leading to more sustainable management and utilization of new sugarcane varieties. 

4. Enhances farmers’ knowledge and skills: Participation in trials and evaluations allows farmers to learn and improve their expertise in managing their sugarcane fields effectively. 

Based on all the steps described above, which OCSB uses to develop sugarcane varieties adapted to changing global climate conditions, the final stage is to officially release the selected varieties as promoted varieties. These varieties are then distributed to farmers to replace older varieties in the field. This entire process represents OCSB’s innovation in sugarcane breeding, aiming to improve the livelihoods of sugarcane farmers while simultaneously advancing Thailand’s sugar industry toward sustainability.

Author: Chartchai Chotisan, Nutthawit Yotnithijiranthorn and Watsuphat Pechsunthad (Office of the Cane and Sugar Board: OCSB)