Disease threat to Europe’s sugar crop
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A virus outbreak has hit Europe’s struggling sugar farmers, already dealing with historically low prices, an insecticide ban and a mild winter which has exacerbated the presence of aphids
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Sugar beet areas (2019, million tonnes) 

UK 1.13
Sweden 0.28
Netherlands 1.14
Belgium 0.83
France 5.29
Poland 2.19
Czech Rep. 0.57
Germany 4.20
Spain 0.39 
Italy 0.22 
Other EU 1.88 
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Beet yellows virus (BYV)

After ban of neonicotinoids – insecticides blamed for killing bees – crops have been left vulnerable to aphid attack. BYV reduces photosynthetic area of leaves reducing sugar content and yield by up to 50%
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EU is world’s third largest sugar producer (million tonnes)

40 30 20 10 0

Brazil 39.5
India 33.7
EU 17.6
Thailand 12.9
China 10.7

Predicted losses 
France: 25% 
Germany: 30% 
Belgium: 50%
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Sources: Bayer, Bloomberg, Julian Price  Picture: British Beet Research Org.
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