Sugar beet to support sustainable fuel and chemicals production

IBioIC is part of the Sugar Beet Working Group (SBWG), which is an informal cross-sectoral group that is working towards the reintroduction of the sugar beet crop to Scotland, to support sustainable fuel and chemicals production using biotechnology and helping to deliver Scotland’s net-zero targets. Originally our group was formed through the Scottish Government funded Rural Innovation Support Service (RISS), but has since become a standalone group with key individuals from across agriculture, innovation and academia, all who are keen to see a sugar beet supply chain established in Scotland.

Scotland currently imports all of the ethanol blended into petrol (57 million litres) and demand is set to double with the anticipated introduction of E10 petrol. Despite the move towards electric vehicles the demand for ethanol for fuel will continue well beyond 2030.

Through the application of biotechnology, sugar from beet will replace fossil carbon as a raw material for the likes of polyethylene production (the most widely used plastic). For example, over two tonnes of CO2eq is sequestered for every tonne produced from ethanol. Such polyethylene is a carbon sink, as it is ‘bio-based’; sequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide during sugar beet growth and reducing CO2 emissions through the process. As a stark contrast, traditional oil-based polyethylene emits just under two tonnes of CO2eq per tonne of plastic made. Many other chemicals and materials can be made from sugar (beet) using biotechnology. This new bio-based chemical industry is growing alongside Scotland’s established chemicals sector.

IBioIC Technical Director, Ian Archer, with sugar beet samples.

Collectively the SBWG view sugar beet as an opportunity for farmers to take as much ownership as is possible in a sugar beet supply chain that will reduce Scotland’s carbon footprint. The group has made substantial progress in the past twelve months. There have been successful crop trials at various farming locations across different geographical areas of Scotland, and significant research undertaken that supports the carbon capture and storage (CCS) element of growing sugar beet. The infographic above makes the case for sugar beet in Scotland, accounting for the benefits to agriculture, manufacturing, consumers and to the fight against climate change.

The SBWG is currently exploring the benefits of setting up a farmer co-operative or co- operatives in progressing this project, as well as the next steps in a viability study. This study will build on the largely favourable groundwork undertaken by NNFCC (The National Non-Food Crops Centre) in a Scottish Enterprise report, Opportunities for Re-stablishing Sugar Beet Production and Processing in Scotland.

The study will build on discussions within our SBWG on growing the crop, harvesting logistics, refining and by-products, investment required and mechanisms or support that credits sugar beet growers for industrial carbon savings. We are confident we can grow and harvest the crop in the East of Scotland with a number of our members already growing sugar beet for use in Anaerobic Digestion (AD) Plants and are currently exploring whether micro-refining plants are an option for onward transportation of concentrated sugar syrup rather than the bulky sugar beet crop.

The sugar beet opportunity supports the Scottish Government’s plans for Net Zero and the green recovery and helps deliver many cross-sectoral priorities in the recent ‘Update to the Climate Change Plan 2018-2032’. Specifically, how the farming community could underpin CCS for several leading Scottish industries, beginning with the chemicals industry.

For more information, contact Lynsey.dunbar@ibioic.com.