Sugarcane was the last major cultivated plant to have its genome sequenced. This was because of its huge complexity: the genome comprises between 10 and 12 copies of each chromosome, when the human genome has just two. An international team which included JBEI coordinated by CIRAD achieved this milestone, as reported in Nature Communication on July 6. It will now be possible to “modernize” the methods used to breed sugarcane varieties. This will be a real boon to the sugar and biomass industry.