The European Union produced 14.2 million tonnes of beet sugar in the 2020/2021 campaign, down 11% from the previous year and the lowest level recorded since 2015/2016, according to the latest statistics from the European Association of Sugar Manufacturers (CEFS) published on Monday 21 February.
“2020/2021 has been an ‘annus horribilis’, with both area and sugar production suffering greatly. This highlights the fact that we no longer have any plant protection products”, Marie-Christine Ribera, Director General of CEFS, told EUROPE on Tuesday 22 February.
She said the EU should do more to coordinate the banning of plant protection products with the search for alternatives. “We are at the heart of the debate on new plant breeding techniques”, as part of the European ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy.
Another lesson drawn from the report is that eight factories closed in 2020/2021, four of which are in France and two in Germany. “The sector is suffering and so far there is no response from the European Commission. Production capacity is being lost, so we need to be vigilant”, explained Ms Ribera.
The sector has challenges in decarbonisation, “which will weigh on our accounts. We are ready to take them on, but only if the Commission gives us the means, including financial means”, said Ms Ribera, concerned about rising energy prices.
For 2021/2022, the CEFS expects EU beet sugar production to increase to around 16 million tonnes.
The EU is exporting much less and “our priority is to serve our internal market and our consumers, and we have more than enough to provide for with European production”, concluded the CEFS Director General.
Link to the CEFS report: https://aeur.eu/f/fg (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)