1912

ICAR-SBI was established as a Sugarcane Research Station under the Department of Agriculture, Madras Presidency funded by the then British Government. Dr. C.A. Barber was appointed as the first Head of Station & Government Sugarcane Expert.

1918

First inter-specific commercial sugarcane variety Co 205 was released

1926

Work on tropical cane breeding initiated

1927

Co canes spread to foreign countries- Co 205 to Cuba and Florida (U.S.A)

1928

Release of Co 312 which dominated as the most popular variety in the sub-tropical India for the next three decades

1932

The Karnal Centre was established with the funds sanctioned by the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research. Mr. G.V. James was the first In-Charge of the station and he succeeded in germinating the sugarcane fluff at Karnal. The first batch of seedlings were planted

1933

First wonder cane of tropical India Co 419 was released

1946

Launching of Spontaneum expeditions scheme (SES)

1949

Second wonder cane of India Co 740 was released

1956

Establishment of a world collection of germplasm duplicating the original collection at Canal Point, U.S.A with U.S. aid. Ninth ISSCT Conference was held for the first time in India at New Delhi

1962

Golden Jubilee year. The Cannanore (Kannur) Research Centre was established to house the world collection of sugarcane germplasm

1963

First PL 480 project taken up for producing Indo-American clones with built-in resistance to diseases, adverse environments utilizing S. spontaneum. Radio isotope laboratory was set up.

1966

All India Coordinated Project on Sugarcane of ICAR was launched with this Institute as one of the main centres

1969

The Institute became part of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)

1974

National Hybridization Garden (NHG) on sugarcane was established

1977

Tissue culture laboratory was established Division of breeding, genetics, cytogenetics and physiology reorganized

1983

Testing of pre-zonal varieties at five zonal centres

1987

Platinum Jubilee celebrated

1999

Agali center was established in 1994 became operational as a full-fledged Research Centre

2000

Co 86032- the wonder cane of new millennium was released

2009

The wonder variety Co 0238 of subtropical India was released

2011

The Centenary Celebrations were launched by Dr. S. Ayyappan, DG (ICAR) & Secretary (DARE) on the occasion of 99th Foundation Day of the Institute.

2012

International Symposium on New Paradigms in Sugarcane Research was held on October 15-18, 2012 connection with the Centenary Celebrations

December 18, 2012 – The Valedictory Function of the Centenary Celebrations was held at the Main Institute, Coimbatore

2013

Sardar Patel Outstanding ICAR Institution Award 2013 (Larger Institutes). The award was presented by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India on the ICAR Foundation Day on 29th July 2014

2014

Runner Award of Mahindra Samriddhi India Agri Awards 2014

2017

Cashless ICAR Institute Award

International Symposium on “Sugarcane Research Since Co 205: 100 Years and Beyond was held on September 18-21, 2017

2021

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SUGARCANE RESEARCH Second Circular Sugarcane for Sugar and Beyond (CaneCon2021)

2022

Canefest’22 Conducted at ICAR-SBI,Coimbatore