Figures released by British Sugar show beet growers in the UK have once more achieved record average yields this year. The revelation marks the fourth time records have been broken in seven years; sugar industry leaders have said the increases are down to hard work to meet ambitious targets and ideal growing conditions.

This harvest’s record of 75.6 tonnes per hectare beats the previous record of 71.7 t/ha set in 2009. The UK sugar industry has said it is committed to raising yields further to increase the sector’s viability once sugar quotas come to an end in 2015.

To this end the industry claims it is investing almost £2 million per year in research and development to examine how more sugar beet can be produced more sustainably. This includes producing beet with a higher sugar content.

Each year the UK sugar beet industry jointly invests over £1.8million in research, development and industry education with the aim of helping growers to increase their competitiveness and profitability while simultaneously promoting sustainable and environmentally responsible practices.

The beet industry in the UK is currently pushing to achieve four per cent growth each year between now and 2015; the so called 4x4 scheme is being supported across the industry, with the eventual aim of doubling yields before quotas come to an end.

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