[Economic-analysis of Beet Cultivation in Belgium .3. New Directions for Research]

Abstract

First of all, the formulation of possible orientations for research requires to keep in mind the basic data of the problem, that is the future orientation of the CAP, and the general framework of resource allocation to the different research subsectors. The following ways seem to be particularly successful: (a) the further exploration of perspectives opened by the recent discoveries in genetics, (b) the coverage by the IRBAB (Institut Roayl Belge pour l'Amelioration de la Betterave) of non explored research subsectors by private firms, for instance the organization of comparative tests of any kind, the rapid and continual diffusion of research results and of any informations directly usable by the farmers, (c) a deeper interpretation, under an economic point of view, of experimental results, and (d) the perfecting of new non food products derived from the sugar beet and its by-products. Lastly, the fact that no correlation has been observed between the yields of sugar beet and the direct expenses incurred (seeds, fertilizers, pesticides) confirms the opportunity to pursue the efforts to reduce the production costs