Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to assist producers in driving sustainability in production of sugar that is refined in the UK.

The Government recognises the importance of the sugar beet crop for many farmers in the centre and east of England, and its vital contribution to UK sugar production. It often plays a vital role in soil and crop health in the arable farm rotation allowing a season of “rest” from intensive cereal production,

Long-term productivity growth and sustainability is dependent upon technological progress and the industry has worked hard over the last 15 years to improve efficiencies and produce the same amount of sugar from less land and with fewer factories. Defra remains committed to supporting the sector over the coming years as they embrace the latest research and innovation to improve the resilience of the crop and the sustainability of the processing factories.

Supported by Defra funding, Tropic, British Sugar and the John Innes Centre are collaborating to produce sugar beet that is resistant against pest and disease pressures – especially Virus Yellows - using precision breeding. This will help to reduce use of pesticides and prevent yield losses such as those that cost the sector £67 million in 2020.