GM Sugarbeet  Sugar derived
from sugar beets (Beta vulgaris L.) accounts for about one-third world
requirements while the rest comes from sugar cane. Sugar beets are grown
in temperate countries like Europe, the Russian Federation and the United
States of America. As of 2000, Europe produced a total of 168,732,216 Mt
of sugar beet, 29,502,500 Mt by the United States of America, and 14,040,800
Mt by the Russian Federation. Countries like Australia, Brazil, China,
Cuba, the European Union, Thailand and Ukraine are the largest exporters
of sugar beets.
Sugar beet is considered to be a remarkable plant. Almost every part of the plant can be put into good use. Upon processing of the beets for sucrose, the dry root pulp, which is high in digestible fiber and energy content, can be used as feed supplement in the dairy and beef industries. Also, a significant amount of monosodium glutamate (MSG), an amino acid salt used to enhance the flavors of foods, can be extracted from the beets. The beet tops left on the fields after harvest can be used as fertilizers for succeeding crops or can be used as feeds for livestock. Sugar beets are efficient in utilizing agricultural inputs like nitrogen and water. It requires little nitrogen fertilization as it has an efficient system of obtaining residual nitrogen in soil. Sugar beets are being modified to contain traits such as herbicide-tolerance, virus-resistance, and fructan biosynthesis. |
Related topics:
Summary Report on the Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops - [View the 2004 report] Transgenic Crops - [Click Here] Extensive Study on Bt Cotton - [Click Here] Download the complete copy of the ISAAA Briefs on Global Status/Review of GM Crops - [Click Here] SciDev.Net's dossier on GM crops - [Click here] Global Status of Approved Genetically Modified Plants - [Click here] |
| Home :: Global Status :: CBT Update :: Info Resource :: Events :: BICs :: Directory :: About Us :: Editorial Policy | |
Copyright © 2006. CropBiotech Net. |
|