In India, sugar is traditionally produced from sugarcane, but sugar may also be made from beetroot if the research yields positive results.
Researchers at Rajmata Vijayraje Scindia Agricultural University in Gwalior are conducting studies on the process of making sugar from beetroot. This process is common in Europe. For this research, beetroot seeds have been supplied by a Danish company. Dr. RK Jaiswal, an agricultural scientist and professor of horticulture at the university, explained to ETV Bharat, “In India, beetroot is mostly used in salads or for juice. It doesn’t have any major commercial application. However, with the support of the Government of India, the Madhya Pradesh government has entrusted Rajmata Vijay Raje Scindia Agricultural University with the task of researching sugar production from beetroot.”
The research is currently focused on three varieties of beetroot. Two of these varieties, Hadella and Gustia, are from Denmark and are white in color, unlike the traditional red or brown beetroot grown in India. The third variety, a hybrid, was sourced from Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir. These varieties contain more sucrose (a form of sugar) than the typical Indian beetroot. While the Indian beetroot contains only about 12% sucrose, the Danish white beetroot contains 15-16% sucrose.
Sanjay Sharma, the Research Director at the university, highlighted that sugarcane cultivation requires more amounts of water as compared to beetroot. “Currently, we are experimenting with three beetroot varieties, comparing the Indian variety with its Danish counterparts,” he explained.
In Madhya Pradesh, an experiment is underway at three colleges under the Agriculture University, with beetroot crops being tested in Gwalior, Indore, and Mandsaur Horticulture College. If successful, this could make beetroot an economically viable crop for India, with potential for sugar production.
