Evolution and History of Sugar Beet in the World: An Overview

Abstract

Sugar beet owes its origin from 8500 B.C. on the seashores of Europe. Leaves are the first portion of the plant which was utilized by prehistoric men as an edible product. The sugar production from its roots has been identified and discovered in 1705, but it was not much exploited. Later, Andreas Marggraf became the first scientist who discovered that pulverized sugar beet root contains identical crystals to that seen in sugarcane stalks. In 1811, the importance of sugar beet for sugar emerged when British blockade had cut off the French Empire’s raw cane sugar supply from the West Indies that led to Napoleon’s interest towards it. Subsequently, in the year 1830, this crop was introduced in North America. In 1840, the factories were revived, and the United States’ first successful sugar beet factory was built. In 1850, sugar beet production spread to Russia and Ukraine while in 1950s, it was introduced in India as a new economic crop. The journey of sugar beet crop from prehistoric to present scenario has been described in detail in this chapter.