Alberta (Rural Roots Canada) – Sugar beets are a vital crop for many farmers in Southern Alberta. They are the only source for sugar products from the refinery in Taber, which is the only sugar beet processing plant in the province, accounting for 10 percent of the total Canadian sugar production.

The plant has a limited amount of daily processing capacity, which presents a challenge for the seasonal crop. Sugar beets are harvested in the late fall and stored in open ground piles where they freeze during the winter and can spoil once the warmer weather arrives.

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Researchers are exploring new storage methods, specifically in mash form rather than traditional piles. Dr. Chandra Singh, senior research chair in agricultural engineering and technology at Lethbridge Polytechnic and leader of this sugar beet project, believes this could open new markets for sugar beet growers.

“We have just filed for the patent for storing sugar beets in mash form rather than piles,” says Singh. “That could potentially open up alternative markets other than making sugar from sugar beets.”

The research, backed by Alberta Sugar Beet Growers and Mitacs, aims to reduce spoilage and expand production potential.

Details are still under wraps, but industry watchers are eager to see how this innovation might reshape and expand sugar beet farming in Alberta