Researchers are pushing for the increased production of sugar beet, a type of root vegetable, to supplement the high demand for sugar and sweeteners in Kenya. “The sugar deficit that we experience as a country can be addressed by adopting the growth of sugar beet and processing it to extract sugar,” he told Business Daily. Sugar beet is a root vegetable grown for its high sugar content and serves as one of the two main global sources of sugar, alongside sugarcane. To seal the sugar deficit, sugar beet is the most viable option," Mr Kariuki said. Describing sugar beet as a multi-purpose crop, Mr Kariuki said that other by-products from sugar beet include agricultural lime, animal feed, fuel, polymers, and ethanol.

Source: The North Africa Journal October 12, 2024 10:53 UTC