‘British Sugar package will do nothing to retain growers’ – NFU

Written by William Kellett

National Farmers’ Union (NFU) Sugar board chairman Michael Sly has responded to the launch of British Sugar’s ‘Beet Package Plus’.

He said:

NFU Sugar in no way supports or endorses British Sugar’s ‘Beet Package Plus’ communication sent to growers this morning and does not believe it is anywhere near enough to stop many growers giving up sugar beet for good when their current contracts finish.

“For months NFU Sugar has expressed its concerns to British Sugar, and to the highest levels of AB Sugar, about the future viability of the home-grown sugar industry.

“Continuing low contract prices, coupled with much greater risks of yield loss from disease, means sugar beet is no longer viewed by many growers as a viable part of their rotations.

“Throughout, NFU Sugar has argued for a targeted package to acknowledge the risks growers have and will continue to face in growing the crop.

“This has not been delivered. NFU Sugar also urged British Sugar to increase the support for those growers who are honouring their multi-year contracts and so risk big losses again this year. British Sugar refused.”

‘The desperate cash flow situation’


Sly continued:

“NFU Sugar urged British Sugar to pay growers some of their 2021 contract in early summer to help with the desperate cash flow situation many growers are facing.

Again, British Sugar refused. NFU Sugar estimates the ‘cash flow support’ British Sugar has offered to growers to be worth just one penny per tonne on average.

“Growers will see the guaranteed surplus price for 2021 for what it is: British Sugar’s desperate need for all the sugar it can get this coming year; given the smaller than normal acreage being drilled in 2021 as growers reduce area or have stopped growing entirely, and British Sugar’s recognition of the opportunities many growers have to sell surplus beet at good prices for feed or energy,” he added.

“To our growers British Sugar claims poverty, but to the city its parent company Associated British Foods recently announced a £100 million profit for the global sugar division AB Sugar, driven in part by improved profitability at British Sugar.

“Market conditions this year indicate British Sugar’s profitability will likely continue to improve.

“We believe that growers will not be seduced by British Sugar’s vague promises of ‘jam tomorrow’ in today’s letter to growers, or in its previous communication.

NFU Sugar believes in the future of the home-grown sugar beet industry, but we remain increasingly concerned that British Sugar’s complacency puts this at severe risk.

“We firmly believe that to have any hope of retaining the strong base of domestic growers for the longer term, sugar beet needs to give growers a viable financial return, something NFU Sugar will continue to fight for on our growers’ behalf,” he concluded.

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