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UK Beet Sugar Industry Sustainability Report 2011 1 Contents UK Beet Sugar Industry Sustainability Report 2011 1 The cover photograph ContentsIntroduction was taken at Sir Richard Sutton’s Settled Estates in Lincolnshire during 2010. It features a field margin beside sugar beet, which has been planted to encourage wildlife (see page 18). Section Foreword 1. Executive summary 2. Industry developments 3. Innovation and research 4. Agricultural efficiency 5. Reducing inputs 6. Process optimisation 7. Environmental management 8. Biodiversity 9. Climate change 10. Supporting the rural economy 2 UK Beet Sugar Industry Sustainability Report 2011 Foreword 1 Executive 2 Industry 3 Innovation 4 Agricultural 5 Reducing 6 Process 7 Environmental 8 Biodiversity 9 Climate 10 Supporting the summary developments and research efficiency inputs optimisation management change rural economy Foreword William Martin Gino De Jaegher The challenges of combating global Increasingly, there is an industry focus upon sharing climate change, reducing environmental best practice, developing new supply chain solutions, embracing a ‘no-waste’ culture and diversification into impacts and increasing the efficiency of new derivative co-products, like bioethanol. food production for a growing population are very real for the British beet sugar Our combined efforts and investment have achieved significant results; crop yields have increased industry. Across Europe, the past five substantially, whilst application rates for fertilisers and years have seen radical reforms, resulting plant protection products have reduced. This increased in the removal of almost 6 million tonnes efficiency has enabled farmers to reduce land use for of sugar production, with the closure sugar beet by some 90,000 hectares. of 60% of the EU’s sugar factories and In our factories we are also making more from less. significant price reduction. Energy consumption per tonne of product has fallen by 25% since 1990 and a diverse range of co-products Against this backdrop, the British beet sugar industry are generated to maximise efficiency; from tomatoes to has invested many millions of pounds into research, animal feed and topsoil to electricity. All these activities development and process efficiency. And it’s heartening to make a positive contribution to the Government’s see that our investment is enabling real progress toward drive for sustainable agriculture and environmental our objectives of protecting the natural environment, protection. reducing greenhouse gas emissions, cutting waste and The UK beet sugar industry is proud of the progress much more, whilst increasing productivity and creating reported in this document. However, we recognise value across the industry. there is much more to do. World population is forecast In the UK, the rate of progress is helped by the close to grow by 2-3 billion in the next 40 years and the level partnership that has developed between beet growers and of knowledge around climate change impacts continues the processor, British Sugar. Together, we are committed to increase. We believe, that as an industry working in to developing our industry sustainably to achieve close partnership, we can look forward to a future of economic, social and environmental improvement. continued innovation and sustainable progress. William Martin Gino De Jaegher Chairman Managing Director NFU Sugar British Sugar UK UK Beet Sugar Industry Sustainability Report 2011 3 1 Contents Executive summary In 2012 the industry will celebrate 100 100 years of UK YEARS production. As the level of public interest grows Priority areas for the UK beet sugar industry concerning sustainable agriculture, Defra’s 1. Reduce inputs structural reform priorities provide areas of focus for the supply chain: support and The industry monitors and optimises the levels of pesticides and fertiliser applied to the crop. Since 1982: develop British farming; sustainable food production; enhance the environment ■ pesticides application has reduced by 60% and biodiversity to improve quality of life; ■ nitrogen application has reduced by 40% strong and sustainable green economy, ■ phosphate application has reduced by 70% resilient to climate change; enhance rural 2. Protect soil and water resources 1 communities. Sugar beet is grown under the Assured Food Standards protocol In 2010, the NFU combined forces with British Sugar (the which requires adherence to Defra’s ‘Code of Good Agricultural 2 sole UK beet sugar processor) to pioneer a landmark four- Practice’ – designed to protect water, soil and air. year framework agreement which governs contractual ■ Over 95% of the crop is rain-fed: use of irrigation is minimal. arrangements for growing sugar beet in the UK. Working ■ Soil removed during beet harvest has fallen to 6%. together, the industry has introduced a new independently- ■ Less than 0.3% of the crop is re-sown due to wind erosion. generated pricing mechanism and efficiency initiatives designed to respond to the Government’s priorities, whilst 3. Improve agricultural efficiency remaining highly competitive in the international marketplace. UK crop yields are consistently ranked in the EU top quartile. The industry is seeking continuous performance improvement in a number of key areas and provides investment funding ■ UK beet yields have risen to an average of 11 tonnes of sugar totalling £1.8 million each year to investigate solutions per hectare (an increase of 60% in the past 30 years). which raise efficiency and productivity, whilst reducing ■ Net land use for sugar beet has reduced by 90,000 hectares impacts to the environment. Learnings are shared through a since 1981 (48%). comprehensive grower support programme. ■ UK sugar beet travels only 28 miles on average from field In 2012, the UK beet sugar industry will celebrate 100 years to factory. of UK production and this report offers an insight into the partnership activities which contribute to the industry’s resilience and success. Looking to the future, with the four-year framework in place and an effective long-running research and development programme providing valuable intelligence, the industry is well placed to build on commercial success, whilst reaching and exceeding its sustainability 48% targets. reduction in land usage 1 Business Plan 2011-2015, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, November 2010 2 ‘Protecting our Water Soil and Air– A Code of Good Agricultural Practice for farmers, growers and land managers’, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 4 UK Beet Sugar Industry Sustainability Report 2011 Foreword 1 Executive 2 Industry 3 Innovation 4 Agricultural 5 Reducing 6 Process 7 Environmental 8 Biodiversity 9 Climate 10 Supporting the summary developments and research efficiency inputs optimisation management change rural economy 100% Only 5% of UK sugar beet 80% the sugar beet travels only 28 60% crop receives miles from field irrigation. to factory. 5% 40% 20% 4. Improve processing efficiency and asset utilisation Today four UK factories process around 7.5 million tonnes of beet annually and produce 2.3 million tonnes of products. ■ 25% reduction of energy used to make a tonne of sugar since 1990. ■ Innovative manufacturing processes generate co-products 60% including tomatoes, electricity, animal feed, bioethanol, increase in lime and topsoil. sugar beet yield continues overleaf > UKUK BeetBeet SugarSugar IndustryIndustry SustainabilitySustainability Report 2011 5 1 Contents Executive summary continued Producing Waste to landfill over 50,000 from UK sugar tonnes of 50% beet factories renewable reduction reduced by 50%. fuel. LAND FILL 5. Protect and maintain biodiversity levels ■ Targeting a 10% reduction of all product carbon footprints by 2020. Sown in the spring, sugar beet provides food and shelter for birds and wildlife, and provides a valuable ‘break crop’ in the 7. Reuse or recycle waste arable rotation. The industry embraces a ‘no-waste’ culture, seeking to reduce ■ It supports internationally important populations of stone waste at source or reuse it. curlews and pink-footed geese. ■ Soil removed with the crop is recovered and used in ■ Since 2003 factories have reduced waste to landfill by 50%. productive applications. 8. Support the rural economy 6. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions The UK beet sugar industry remains one of the leading rural Manufacturing sites operate under the UK’s Climate Change employers in the East of England. Agreement scheme and the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, ■ Over 3,000 beet growers based primarily in East Anglia and designed to reduce carbon emissions. the East Midlands. ■ World’s first sugar industry to certify the carbon footprint of ■ Economic activity associated with the supply chain supports sugar using the new PAS 2050 standard, in partnership with up to 13,000 jobs. the Carbon Trust. ■ Total economic contribution of around £800 million each ■ Using a residual beet sugar syrup, the industry produces year. over 50,000 tonnes of bioethanol each year, with GHG savings of over 70%. Spring-sown sugar beet supports a wide variety of birdlife. 6 UK Beet Sugar Industry Sustainability Report 2011 2 Industry developments Supporting Up to the rural 13,000 economy. jobs Sugar beet yields have been rising faster than those now take on more tonnage and the 2010 transfer scheme has of any other UK arable crop since 1980 and in 2010 successfully redistributed contract tonnage from low yielding the UK industry was ranked as the world’s most producers, contributing to increasing national productivity levels. competitive
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