Assessment of S&E Sugar Crops Research Program

Excerpts from the Executive Summary: Sucrose consumption per capita in the United States decreased and corn sweetener consumption increased in the decade of the 1970's. Decreased per capita consumption more than offset the population increase, resulting in less total sucrose consumed in 1980 than in 1970. Domestic production of sucrose has historically provided 40-50% of the U.S. sweetener market. The balance has been imported from sugar cane producing countries. Several sugarbeet and sugarcane processing facilities in the United States were closed in the 1970's. Use of corn sweeteners, price fluctuations, processing cost, increased demand for sweeteners, use of noncaloric sweeteners, and potential alcohol production from sugar crops were identified as factors that would impact upon the future of the domestic sugar industry in the next decade. Goals of the Science and Education (S&E) agencies sugar crop research programs were identified as 1) increase yield per acre and processing quality, 2) reduce losses to pest, 3) reduce losses during harvest and storage, 4) increase crop tolerance to environmental stresses, 5) collect, evaluate, utilize and preserve germplasm, 6) develop fundamental knowledge, and 7) improve cultural practices.