NFU Sugar and British Sugar have announced reforms to the UK sugar beet seed model, with changes to be made to growers’ contracts from 2025.

As part of the changes, growers will be given more choice over where and how to buy their seed, either directly, via third party seed suppliers, or through the existing UK Seed Account, operated by British Sugar and overseen by NFU Sugar.

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The UK Seed Account will be open throughout the year and stocks will be released for sale as they become available. 

To supply beet to British Sugar, growers will be permitted to grow a wider choice of varieties, to allow earlier uptake of new genetics and increased choice.

But growers will still be required to grow varieties that are either on the Recommended List, were on the list in the past year, or are on the Variety List and undergoing trials.

Andrew Fletcher, joint seed lead on the NFU Sugar board, said he was pleased to have worked together with British Sugar to agree the new changes, so that the system remains fit for purpose.

He said: “We’ve listened to feedback from growers about what did and didn’t work for them and believe that changes to the model will prevent a rush on buying seed, promote investment from breeders and reduce the risk of substitutions.

“This will ensure that we’re able to continue to produce sugar beet for the nation sustainably and efficiently.”