Swiss beets have benefited from favourable weather conditions this year
Keystone / Laurent Gillieron
The Swiss sugar industry is expecting significantly higher yields this year as a result of favourable weather conditions in sugar beet cultivation.
This content was published on
1 minute
Keystone-SDA/ts
The measured beet yields of around 59 and 55 tonnes per hectare in the western and eastern sample plots respectively are at least ten tonnes higher than the five-year average, the Agricultural Information Service said in a statementExternal link.
Sugar content is also reported to be well above average. At more than nine tonnes per hectare, the calculated sugar yield could be higher than at any time in the past ten years. The forecast figures are based on initial samples taken at the end of July.
The sugar beets benefited from the warm and dry spring. In addition, the beet bodies gained considerable weight thanks to moist and warm conditions in June. However, experts point out that diseases or a lack of rain in the next four weeks could reduce the harvest.
The Swiss sugar beet industry is struggling, with the area under cultivation continuing to decline. Diseases, stricter regulations on pesticides and a low sugar price have reduced the attractiveness of such crops in recent years.
In March, the Swiss parliament decided to support domestic sugar production with subsidies. In Switzerland, around 4,000 farms rely on sugar beet in their crop rotation.
More
More
Why Switzerland props up its ailing sugar industry
This content was published on
The industry is being kept alive by massive government subsidies. SWI swissinfo.ch reports from the country’s largest sugar factory.
Basel diocese files five claims of sexual abuse in Swiss Catholic Church
This content was published on
The diocese of Basel has received 141 reports of sexual abuse since the publication of a sweeping study on violations in the Catholic Church by the University of Zurich in 2023.
Swiss president calls for open markets and stable institutions in WEF speech
This content was published on
Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter was among speakers at the WEF in Davos to make the case for fair competition, a day after Donald Trump became the 47th president of the United States.
Swiss film in competition at the 75th Berlinale has a shot at Golden Bear
This content was published on
The feature film La Cache by Lausanne screenwriter and director Lionel Baier has a chance of winning the Silver or Golden Bear at the 75th Berlinale, festival organisers said on Tuesday.
Swiss politician who shot at image of Jesus resigns from Liberal Green Party
This content was published on
Sanija Ameti, who caused controversy after shooting at an image of Jesus and Mary last September, has resigned from the Liberal Green Party.
Swiss campaigners gather enough signatures to submit ‘responsible business’ initiative
This content was published on
The Swiss people are set to vote again on the corporate responsibility of multinationals after campaigners collected 183,661 signatures in 14 days for their new 'responsible business' initiative.
Several Swiss municipalities and banks hit by cyberattack
This content was published on
Russian hackers attacked the websites of several Swiss municipalities and banks on Tuesday, just as the World Economic Forum (WEF), got under way in Davos.
Music strengthens brain connections in premature babies, Swiss study shows
This content was published on
In premature babies, music strengthens connections in certain areas of the brain, according to a years-long study by the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG).
WEF gives Crystal Award to Beckham, Yamamoto and von Fürstenberg
This content was published on
The World Economic Forum in Davos handed out awards to UNICEF ambassador David Beckham, Japanese architect Riken Yamamoto and women's rights activist Diane von Fürstenberg.
Swiss CEOs betting on a strong domestic market in 2025
This content was published on
Swiss business leaders are optimistic about 2025, despite a world in crisis, says a new survey by Pricewaterhouse Coopers.
This content was published on
Economics Minister Guy Parmelin and Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis have welcomed Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang to Bern
This content was published on
At the turn of the 20th century, Switzerland was an international hub for the trade in an illegal substance: the artificial sweetener saccharin.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.