On Wednesday, NFU Sugar board chair William Martin told attendees at the Norfolk Farming Conference that the UK sugar sector is well placed to compete in an increasingly competitive market once quotas are abolished in 2017.

However, Mr Martin said future success was dependent on the cooperation of British Sugar. His comments come after a bitter struggle over prices between farmers, represented by the NFU, and the UK's monopoly processor British Sugar last summer.

EU legislators have agreed to push back the end of sugar quotas, but new EU plans have since questioned this compromise. Industry groups including Copa Cogeca want them retained and are resisting moves to do away with the model which privileges EU sugar sooner. They claim this will only benefit sugar buying industries, at the expense of consumers and farmers.  

Speaking on Wednesday, Mr Martin said, "There is absolutely no doubt that we will be facing a much more competitive market place when quotas come to an end in three years. But we remain confident that as one of the most efficient beet sugar sectors in Europe we as growers can rise to the challenges."

He continued, "It is also important to stress that while growers can play their part, it will require a collective effort from the whole sector. That includes commitment from British Sugar to address some of the traditional areas of conflict we have seen in the past, to work together to establish a better basis on which we can plan and invest to ensure a bright future of the sugar beet industry in the UK."