Sugar beet is converted into a wide range of processed agricultural and industrial products:

• sugar and other sweeteners produced using sugar,

• bioenergy: bioethanol and biogaz,

• animal feed, biochemicals, and bioplastics. 

CIBE promotes the use of sugar beet and the development of bio-based refineries/industries wich are the cornerstone of the bioeconomy.

 CIBE calls for:

• appropriate incentives to boost the use of agricultural feedstocks of which sugar beet in the bio-based industries and to lift the incentives granted to fossil fuel industries;

• a comprehensive policy and regulatory framework, notably with regards to the production and supply of competitive EU feedstocks, the development of renewable energy and biofuels in the EU and in the Member States;

• support for investments in bioeconomy from R&D to commercial applications and support the proposal of the European Commission on Horizon Europe research and  innovation programme to allocate a budget of €10 billion for research and innovation projects in food, agriculture, rural development and the bio-economy (Pillar II, Global challenges & Industrial competitiveness).

CIBE promotes the use of sugar beet to produce bioethanol. To date 23 bioethanol distilleries use sugar beet and sugar beet products as feedstocks.

Sugar beet growers and sugar beet manufacturers are also founders and active members of bioeconomy platforms and companies developing (e.g. ARD Innovation in Green and the Biorefinery of Pomacle Bazancourt Reims, France)

CIBE participates to the COPA-COGECA working party on Bioenergy and Bioeconomy

Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC)

CIBE is associate member of the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC). BIC represents the private sector in a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with the European Commission, also known as the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU). This public-private partnership aims to invest € 3.7 billion in bio-based innovation between 2014 and 2020.

BIC and fifteen organisations have set out joint Vision for Europe’s bioeconomy future – a circular bio-society (4 June 2019).

This Vision will establish a sustainable and competitive bio-based industry in the EU enabling a circular bio-society by 2050. In this circular bio-society, informed citizens choose a sustainable way of life, supporting an economy that couples economic growth with societal well-being and respect for the environment.

The Vision focuses on four key drivers:

1. Foster food security for a growing world population and meet its demand for sustainable products
2. Contribute to a sustainable planet
3. Create jobs and growth in the circular bioeconomy
4. Achieve a circular bioeconomic society

and is the result of the collective input from by the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) and its members, the Bio-based Industries Joint-Undertaking (BBI JU) advisory bodies: the States Representatives Group and Scientific Committee, and several organisations fo which European Bioeconomy Alliance (EUBA)

The PULP2VALUE project is part of the Bio Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) annual work plan topic BBI VC3.D4 2014: “Functional additives from residues from the agro-food industry”.

Its objective is to process sugar beet pulp into value added products. The PULP2VALUE approach intends to demonstrated an integrated and cost-effective cascading biorefinery system to refine sugar beet pulp and isolate high value products for detergents, personal care, oil & gas, paints & coatings and composites.