WESTERN ONTARIO: Sarnia sugar co-op shuts down

The Cellulosic Sugar Producers Co-operative closed down last month and co-op members have been given back their investments, including membership fees.

The co-op was formed five years ago when it appeared that a sugar mill would be erected in the Sarnia area. Cellulosic sugar can be extracted from crop residue like corn stover and wheat stalks, and can then used to make ethanol or other biofuels, or biochemical building blocks for food ingredients or fragrances.

Almost 120 growers representing 30,000 acres had signed up to be co-op members. However, last year, the company that was looking to build the sugar mill decided to put plans on hold and focus on other types of production instead.