Connecting Growers and Researchers

Dr Georg Vierling, Head of Beet Cultivation and New Plants at Südzucker, shares insights on how new beet varieties and why close partnerships with farmers and researchers is key to moving forward.

Südzucker: Who are you and what is your role at Südzucker?

Dr Georg Vierling: My name is Georg Vierling, I am responsible for the beet and faba bean production in the Südzucker Group and currently I am also very busy with our SBR task force^*. And the last area of my responsibility is the question of raw material supply.

^* Editor’s Note: SBR is a bacterial disease, Syndrome Basses Richesses. The vector is a plant hopper. The task force coordinates German wide research and field trials to combat the spread of SBR.

Südzucker: How are new beet varieties changing the perspective on sugar beet cultivation?

Dr Georg Vierling: The impact of new selections and breeding technologies is a particularly important issue. With climate change intensifying, we have more pests and diseases. Breeders have the power to influence crop varieties and raw materials – ensuring field performance. Their work is helps address challenges related to pests and diseases.

Südzucker: How do regulatory changes such as the reduction of crop protection products or plant protection products affect your work?

Dr Georg Vierling: Regulatory changes have a major impact on our work. Our growers want to produce regional food for the consumers, but we are facing more regulations in Europe and especially in Germany. One example is the regulation of pesticides and plant protection. With fewer plant protection products available to the beet growers, we must make it clear to governments that ensuring food production is only possible with a minimum level of plant protection.

Südzucker: What role do variety selection and crop rotation planning play in modern sugar beet cultivation?

Dr Georg Vierling: For Südzucker and our growers, variety selection and crop rotation planning play a key role in successful sugar beet cultivation. Sugar beet is integrated into crop rotation on the field, and many growers are adapting their soil tillage practices and introducing cover crops as part of their crop management approach.

Südzucker: What capabilities must new crops have in the future to fit into a agricultural system?

Dr Georg Vierling: I think the most important thing is the market. There needs to be a clear opportunity for commercialization. Another important issue for farmers is climate change. New crops must be able to adapt to climate change and handle dry periods and hot temperatures. That is why breeding new plant varieties is so important. These new varieties help farmers deal with climate challenges, so they can keep growing crops in their field.

Südzucker: How important is the exchange with farmers in your work, and what insights do you take back into research from practice?

Dr Georg Vierling: I work at the interface between growers and researchers. At Südzucker, we have a strong relationship with our beet growers – around 10,000 beet growers in Germany alone. One aspect is the theoretical perspective coming from universities and research. But the other is what is realistic – what works in the field. That is why we have such a strong relationship with our growers and why we meet regularly with farmers, for example on field days. Without this close connection to the growers, we would not be able to realise our group’s ideas.