In the Sugar Beet Zone at 2025 Cereals event

Anyone growing sugar beet in the world today will be familiar with varieties from SesVanderHave and Hilleshog.

Year after year, sugar beet remains a significant and reliable break crop delivering increased yields despite increasingly extreme climate events.

“Last year, British Sugar and NFU Sugar announced ground breaking changes that empower growers to buy seed directly from breeder,” says SesVanderHave UK director Ian Munnery

With many growers seeking advice on variety selection and ordering  seed directly, Cereals  is an ideal opportunity to meet and discuss sugar beet.

No brainer

“The event is less than three miles from our Lincolnshire offices, so our attendance is a no-brainer,” says Mr Munnery.

“We will be located on  Stand 239, our Sugar Beet zone, near the NFU stand and next door to British Sugar’s own stand; so you will be well informed ahead of your 2026 crop decisions, including varieties.”

Here you’ll not only be able to meet the full UK team but also many breeding and research experts from SesVanderHave, Belgium; and Hilleshog, Sweden; as SesVanderHave UK is now UK marketing agent for the Hilleshog genetics.

We will showcase our full portfolio of tried and tested varieties that many growers will be familiar with, such as Antler, Aslan, Gadwall, Hoopoe (BCN), Osprey (AYPR), Magpie, Wren, Adder and Tawny.

You can also gain an insight into some of our candidates within current BBRO trials, including Grouse and Snipe.

Higher sugar content

Antler truly is groundbreaking – the new Monarch of the Fen – sitting alongside BTS1915 at the very top of the BBRO 2026 Recommended List, but with higher sugar content and lower bolting. No doubt, it will be the variety of growers’ choice for 2026 sowing.

Our new high yielding variety Aslan sees Hilleshog genetics return to the UK market.  While Hoopoe has demonstrated excellent performance against beet cyst nematode, Osprey remains the only BBRO Recommended variety for use in the presence of AYPR rhizomania. If you don’t need BCN or CERC (as claimed by the breeder) Gadwall is the third highest classical rhizomania tolerant variety – so there will be plenty of choice.

With a further 10 candidates in trials pending BBRO Recommended List approval for 2026 and an additional 48 in APHA Variety List trials, SesVanderHave has a formidable pipeline of new genetics, traits and treatments to help growers maximise and protect their yields.

Better varieties

“We will also be showcasing some lessons learnt from Club SV 2024 trials; where we are not only working with leading growers to better evaluate varieties under commercial conditions across the whole UK,” says Mr Munnery.

Experts from SesVanderHave will also be on hand to share lessons on how to maximise yields and minimise risks.  The lessons learnt include seed and nitrogen rates, sowing dates and seed treatments.

Reducing nitrogen rates is a major topic going forward for breeders given the potential to not only negatively affect sugar content and processability if in excess, but also to increase your bottom line.

As part of the BASIS trail, we will be explaining the need for vigilance against Rubbery Tap Root disease and Syndrome Basse Richesse, which are growing threats across Europe.