Annual beet campaign started again
From today, all Cosun Beet Company factories are back to processing sugar beet. The factories in Dinteloord and Hoogkerk (Groningen) received the first beets this morning. Processing already started on 6 September at our German factory in Anklam. This moment also marks the start of much more than sugar production, by the way.
The start date of the Dutch beet campaign this year is a week later than last year. Wet and cold weather conditions meant growers could not sow until 3 weeks later than normal. This is also part of the reason why we expect a shorter campaign period than last year, of 124 days, or just under 18 weeks. Last year, the number was 137 days.
The expected yield is good
The expected yield is better than earlier estimates. It currently stands at 84 tonnes of beet per hectare, with a sugar yield of 14 tonnes per hectare, which is slightly higher than the five-year average, but lower than last year. After a chilly spring, a somewhat wet summer and plenty of sunshine in September, the beet fields are looking good at the moment. Crop damage due to beet western yellows virus and leaf mould has also been limited so far this year. The forecast for the total amount of sugar to be produced is slightly lower than in 2022, though.
Greening of the industry
Although beet cultivation and sugar production have all been around for a long time, the sugar, and in particular sugar beet industry, look very different today. A lot of effort is being made to save energy, reduce CO2 and take important steps towards circular applications. Energy consumption has already been reduced by 50% per kilogram of sugar at the factories compared to1990, green energy is generated from windmills and solar panels, and green gas is produced from components of sugar production.
New sugar beet charging development
Cosun Beet Company also helps growers with smart innovations such as the Mause beet loader, where sugar beet is partially stripped of sand and clay when it is loaded onto trucks. An additional Mause beet loader will be used during this campaign, with 22% of all beet already being loaded this way.
More than just sugar production
Nowadays, sugar beet is also used to make much more than just sugar, since all components of the beet plant can be used. Applications includes food, animal feed, green energy, bio-based household goods and cosmetics. Fidesse® is the latest innovation, which is an ingredient made from beet pulp that adds texture and juiciness to meat and fish substitutes. All the potential of beetroot is collected in the Bright Beet Book.
Beetroot's versatility fits into the strategy of parent company Royal Cosun, which aims to use the full potential of plants in a transparent and circular manner to turn them into valuable, plant-based solutions. This way, we add value for our members, customers, partners and society as a whole.