Welcome to the first episode of CropCast Conversations hosted by Principal Consultant Mark Bowsher-Gibbs.  On today’s episode Mark is joined by Iain Riddel (Principal Consultant, SAC Consulting). They discuss growing sugar beet in Scotland and cover sugar beet trial work, sites, varieties, farmer group feedback and conclusions from trial work.  

Episode Timestamps  

00.32 Introducing Iain Riddell 

01.49 Background to sugar beet in Scotland 

05.05 Rural Innovation Support Service project 

10.12 Biorefining hubs 

11.35 Farmers feedback on practicalities of sugar beet in the rotation 

15.43   Harvesting sugar beet 

18.40 Storing sugar beet 

19.35 Trials of different varieties at different locations 

29.40 IBiolC Conference take-home messages 

31.30 Iain’s closing thoughts 

FAS Resources 

Field Trialling Sugar Beet in Eastern Scotland

Other Resources    

IBiolC (Organisation that connects industry, academia and government to bring biotechnology processes and products to the global market) 

 IBiolC annual conference (March 2025)   

 Sugar Beet: A Just Transition for the Chemicals Sector and a Net Zero Solution for Manufacturing.  

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot 

Twitter: @FASScot 

Facebook: @FASScot 

National Advice Hub 

Phone: 0300 323 0161 

Email: [email protected]