NFU Sugar says it’s extremely concerned about the impact on growers of British Sugar’s decision to take down its online grower portal for an indefinite period in the middle of the sugar beet campaign.

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Chairman of the NFU Sugar board, Michael Sly, said: “I think I speak on behalf of all growers in expressing my disappointment and frustration that this has happened. This portal provides the information that growers and hauliers need to get beet into British Sugar factories.  It isn’t just a nice to have – it’s business critical.

“NFU Sugar will closely monitor the effectiveness of the interim measures British Sugar puts in place to communicate with growers and hauliers.

“More generally, we are concerned about the continued, historic, lack of investment by Associated British Foods into British Sugar. Until greater investment is forthcoming, the home grown sugar industry will struggle to compete effectively in the post-quota world.”