Abstract
Sugarcane bagasse (SCB) is an agro-industrial residue extracted during sugar processing. Sugar mills use basic process technologies for bagasse valorisation. Residues are often disposed improperly or burned inefficiently by thermal boilers causing environmental pollution. Biorefining bagasse as substrate for bio-based chemical production is superior to biomass disposal by incineration, burning and landfill. The conversion of bagasse for value-added applications may be economical with less environmental impact on humans and the ecosystem. Computer aided tools such as ontologies for knowledge modelling represent available information for bagasse feedstocks. This paper presents a reference model referred to as the SCB Ontology which is limited to a framework for the modelling of knowledge on the current utilisation of SCB feedstocks from principal sugarcane-cultivating countries. The SCB Ontology identifies opportunities for efficient bagasse valorisation by principal sugarcane producers. Potential application of the SCB Ontology for bagasse valorisation which is a circular bioeconomy initiative was also discussed.