Development of the sugar beet quality in the Netherlands since 1980 and introduction of invert sugar as a new parameter for beet quality assessment

The technological beet quality has been always important for the processors of sugar beet. An investigation into the development of the beet quality in the Netherlands since 1980 has shown that beet quality has improved significantly. Internal quality parameters that are traditionally determined in the beet laboratory, i.e. sugar content, Na, K and -aminoN, all show an improving trend over the years. In the factories, better beet quality has led to lower lime consumption in the juice purification and significantly higher thick juice purity.

In 2013, Suiker Unie introduced the serial analysis of the glucose content in beet brei as part of the routine quality assessment of the beet. The invert sugar content is subsequently calculated from glucose content with a new correlation. The background, the trial phase and the first experiences with the glucose analyzer are discussed.