By Will Wetzel
Spectroscopy
A recent collaborative study between the Audubon Sugar Institute and Louisiana State University (LSU) demonstrated the potential of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to analyze the quality of sugar cane. In this study, led by Kevin McPeak of LSU, the researchers used NIR spectroscopy to test whether it can analyze sugar cane despite the presence of extraneous matter (EM) (1). The findings have significant implications for the global sugar industry, which is valued at approximately $78 billion annually (1).