Knowledge and research
To optimise beet production, Cosun Beet Company is working with the Institute for Rational Sugar Production (IRS), the knowledge and research centre for sugar beet in the Netherlands. In collaboration with the IRS, Cosun Beet Company carries out research projects and receives information and professional services to improve the beet yield. The IRS helps growers farm high quality and healthy sugar beet with a view to a profitable and sustainable crop.
We aim to increase the yield per hectare and reduce the tare soil attaching to the sugar beet. To promote circularity, the tare that we wash off the beet is used to raise ground levels and build earth walls.
Optimising beet cultivation
Cosun Beet Company helps its growers optimise and analyse their crops. Data on the beet are entered into the BAS and Unitip crop analysis systems. The growers can then be advised on how they can further optimise their beet crops.
BAS-app
The BAS app (Beet Advisory System) provides growers with field-specific advice at the right time, based on data from Unitip and other sources such as soil maps and satellite imagery. This information helps identify areas requiring attention and supports the development of recommendations in line with the IRS cultivation guide.
Unitip
Unitip is Cosun Beet Company’s crop registration system, used by growers to centrally record cultivation data. These data form an essential foundation for research, accountability, reporting, and improving sugar beet cultivation in the Netherlands. In addition, Unitip enables growers to compare their crop performance with others. By sharing their information annually through Unitip, growers make a valuable contribution to the development of sustainable, efficient, and futureproof beet cultivation.
FSA Sustainability Certification for Growers
The Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA) is a global standard for demonstrating a sustainable supply chain in agriculture. The FSA standard is managed by the SAI Platform, a non-profit organization established by several companies in the food industry to support the development and implementation of sustainable farming initiatives.
Cosun Beet Company’s policy is that all growers hold a Topcrop certificate or an equivalent recognized food safety and sustainability certification. These certificates have been benchmarked by SAI and are equivalent to the highest level of the FSA 3.0 standard: Gold level. In this way, Cosun Beet Company ensures that its growers are committed to sustainable beet cultivation.
