To develop physiological screens for resistance/tolerance to beet cyst nematode and other future novel traits developed specifically for the UK. Current novel traits within varieties are priced at a premium and hence growers need independent advice on when to invest in these varieties.

To develop expertise in the application and digital delivery of crop and agricultural systems modelling. Apply this expertise to create a farm level yield improvement tool to support measureable improvement by innovation and knowledge transfer in the UK sugar beet industry grower base.

Virus yellows in sugar beet is a greater problem in the UK than anywhere else in Europe because of our maritime climate, which favours the aphid vector. The UK beet industry invests up to £7M annually on insecticides (seed treatments and foliar sprays) for aphid control, without which virus yellows could cause losses of up to £10million/year. Recent EU restrictions on neonicotinoid use and the development of insecticide resistance in aphids in Europe, threatens to significantly increase virus yellows in UK-grown sugar beet, making the UK crop less competitive in world markets. Development of sugar beet resistant to virus yellows is therefore critical. We have identified wild beet that are resistant to the effects of virus yellows and have crossed this trait into sugar beet. We propose to develop this resistance further by crossing our resistant lines with modern breeding varieties and carry out rigorous testing of our new varieties for virus yellows resistance, plant vigour and sugar yield. This 5yr pre-breeding project will accelerate the production of new virus yellows resistant sugar beet varieties, bringing significant economic and environmental benefits to the UK and Europe.

The aim of this project is to minimise the impact of disease on yield of the UK sugar beet crop which is worth approximately £240M per year. Yield potential of the UK sugar beet crop is c.130 t/ha compared to an average yield of 70t/ha. One of the factors responsible for this yield gap is foliar diseases which can reduce yield by more than 50% and, whilst current practices prevent yield losses of this magnitude, it is estimated that 10% yield is lost to foliar diseases, representing £24M per year. Climate change may lead to increasing pressure from existing diseases and 'new' emerging diseases, which require increased crop protection. This project will bring together novel diagnostic tools, crop disease modelling and yield forecasting to underpin grower decision making and investigate the potential impact of emerging diseases on the crop.