The Institute, originally called as Sugarcane Breeding Station, was established in the year 1912 under the administrative control of the Director of Agriculture of Madras Presidency and was attached to the Agricultural College and Research Institute, Coimbatore. The Government of India took over the station in the year 1924 and vested the technical control with the Imperial Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa. In 1950, the status of the station was raised to that of an Institute and brought under the control of the Union Ministry of Food and Agriculture. Later in 1969, the Institute became part of Indian Council of Agricultural Research.

Sugarcane is a tropical plant and does well under tropical conditions in the world. Yet in India, from time immemorial, indigenous sugarcane varieties were being grown in the sub-tropical Indo-Gangetic plains with the rigours of severe summer and winter conditions which inhibit the growth of the crop. The varieties were very low in yield of cane as compared to the varieties then grown in tropical areas in the world, but were hardy and able to withstand the severity of the climate in northern India. Thus, at the beginning of this century, India was importing almost its entire requirements of sugar, mainly from Java (Now Indonesia), draining the exchequer. It was under these circumstances that the Sugarcane Breeding Institute at Coimbatore was started in 1912 to evolve improved hybrid varieties for the sub-tropical conditions. Coimbatore was selected, since sugarcane varieties flowered profusely and set seed easily under the natural climatic conditions.

The Institute was the first in the world to attempt at evolving suitable sugarcane varieties for the sub-tropical parts of the country, while the other two then existing institutions in Java and Barbados were solely devoted to developing varieties for tropical conditions which was easier. Faced with this onerous task, the two scientists, Dr. C.A.Barber and Sir. T.S. Venkatraman working at the Institute during those days, attempted to cross the tropical sugarcane, S. officinarum with the indigenous varieties in cultivation in North India, classified later as S. barberi. This work, carried on for a few years, was not successful. Later on, they struck upon the idea of utilising the wild species S. spontaneum growing on the channel bunds adjoining the Institute to evolve the much needed hardy varieties for the sub-tropical belt
 

Co 205, which resulted from this interspecific hybridisation, proved a remarkable success in North India, particularly Punjab, where it recorded 50 per cent more yield than the indigenous varieties in cultivation and was well adapted to the climatic and soil conditions because of the wild species ancestry. This landmark achievement of successful utilisation of the wild species for varietal evolution is unparalleled in the annals of plant breeding history. This was followed by another hybrid, Co 285, which proved better than Co 205. This good bit of research having yielded high dividends, it was felt that the indigenous varieties as well could be roped in breeding programme and thus started, for the first time, a three species combination, the tropical sugarcane S. officinarum, the sub-tropical S.barberi and the wild S.spontaneum. Out of this came the later Coimbatore varieties Co 312, Co 313, etc. which revolutionised the sugarcane cultivation and the sugar industry in the sub-tropical belt. And it is these three species combination that formed the basis of further breeding work not only in India but also in many sugarcane growing countries. Breeding of improved varieties for tropical southern India that had comparatively low area under sugarcane was started in 1926. Within a short span of 7-8 years, the world's wonder Variety Co 419 was released. Soon the entire tropical belt was saturated with this variety. The variety proved successful, in many other countries viz., Barbados, Jamaica, British Guyana, Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, etc. and brought credit and glowing tributes to the scientists of the Institute. The rest is history.

Sugarcane Breeding Institute became the world leader in sugarcane breeding.
 

MANDATE:
 

	Breeding of superior sugarcane varieties / genotypes having high sugar productivity as well as sustainability and to assist State sugarcane breeding programs.
	To conduct basic and strategic researches on crop improvement, production and protection aspects of sugarcane cultivation.
	Collection, maintenance, evaluation, documentation and conservation of sugarcane / Saccharum species genetic resources.
	Effecting technology transfer, consultancy and human resource development in the areas of sugarcane agricultural research.