Abstract
There is little doubt that there are challenging times ahead for the beet sugar industry and for the research and development that underpins it. At present, production is efficient, the market is guaranteed and there is a continued upward trend in productivity. However, the pressure on the industry, in common with agriculture and food organizations in general, is to develop systems that require less inputs and give higher returns. The pressure on sugar-beet research is to provide improved cropping systems and new varieties inherently capable of producing higher yields, improved quality and durable resistance to pests and diseases. The industry must be flexible in order to remain competitive, particularly in the face of reduced protectionism from the sweeteners market. This paper identifies the research and development which has contributed towards its success, and addresses the question of future research objectives and how these can be approached.
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