Germany: The sugar industry slightly adjusts production estimates and looks to Brussels with concern

November 15, 2023 | 11:11:00 | ID: 38052 | Department: Agriculture | agricultural economics Berlin (agrar-PR) - The sugar beet harvest will end in the next few weeks. The late sowing due to weather conditions and the wet autumn lead to a rather mixed estimate for the 2023/24 campaign. The beets were able to increase in mass significantly, but due to the lack of sun, the sugar content fell significantly compared to the first harvest estimate. The amount of sugar is around the 5-year average. The future of the sugar industry will be decided in Brussels next week. Factory employees and beet growers are looking with great concern at the EU Parliament's vote on the regulation on the sustainable use of plant protection products (SUR) and are calling for decisive adjustments. The corresponding Commission proposal currently provides for a blanket ban on plant protection products in sensitive areas. The Environment Committee's proposal to only allow ecological or so-called low-risk ...