BELLE GLADE - Palm Beach Community College (PBCC) representatives have announced that the college will be implementing a Sugar Cane Institute in the future.

According to Provost Beverly Robinson, the institute’s curriculum will be first of its kind in the United States.

Ms. Robinson said that it is not yet determined when the institute will actually begin operations, since the college planning is currently in the early stages.

“We are beginning to develop a curriculum for the Sugar Cane Institute,” said Ms. Robinson.

Tere Johnson, chief chemist and quality control manager at U.S. Sugar, conducted a presentation of the history of sugar cane and how the proposed institute would be beneficial to prospective employees of U.S. Sugar, Florida Crystals, Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida, and the Okeelanta Corporation.

These companies came out to PBCC last Wednesday and had some input in the development of the proposed institute.

Brent Woodham of Sugar Cane Growers said that as of next year, there will be only four sugar mills as a result of an automation system that will be in place. He emphasized that in order to be successful in the future, prospective employees must be technologically skilled to thrive in the sugar cane business.

“We’re going to require some training in order for future employees to keep up with the ever-changing technology going on in our industry,” said Mr. Woodham.

Mr. Woodham encouraged grade school students to gain knowledge in all of the subjects taught in school and to take advantage of all resources available to them, including the opportunity to be technologically savvy.

Mr. Woodham said that certified engineers and other positions will need to be filled in the future since automation will soon take place.

R. Edward Smith, a human resource manager of Okeelanta Corp., said that an apprenticeship program has just begun there. Also, Okeelanta currently packages sugar from a variety of customers, including Florida Crystals. The entity has about fifteen lines dedicated to packaging.

“Welders and mechanics are the backbone for what we do here at Okeelanta Corporation,” said Mr. Smith.

U.S. Sugar, Okeelanta Corp. and Sugar Cane Growers are set to provide some benefits to those interested in working for either of these firms. Prospective PBCC students will enjoy free tuition and books paid for by the companies.

Representatives with the companies and the college hope to encourage students to do well in school.

“We want the youth to willing to work really hard so they could grow their own sugar cane in the future,” said Mr. Woodham.