There is no need to transport the domestic sugar beet across the Atlantic Photo: picture alliance/dpa
From BZ/dpa
No question, both can sweeten. But those who value organic when buying sugar usually also think about sustainability, hesitating between cane and beet sugar. Experts clarify.
Organic sugar is mostly made from sugar cane, the raw materials of which come from South and Central America, Africa or Asia. But organic sugar is also produced from German sugar beet. However, local organic sugar from beets is significantly more expensive than imported organic cane sugar.
There are reasons for this: Among other things, this is due to the very labour-intensive cultivation of organic beets. This is pointed out by the consumer advice center in Bavaria. For example, the weeds that grow quickly between the beets are not fought with weed killers, but with the hoe, explains Sabine Hülsmann, nutrition expert at the consumer center. That costs time and money.
According to calculations by the Research Institute for Organic Farming, local organic beet sugar has a third less impact on the environment than organic cane sugar from Paraguay.
This is mainly due to the fact that the field yields are higher here. In addition, sugar beets need less fertilizer than sugar cane. The sugar yield in the factory is also much more efficient.
And there is another plus for the environment: there is no need to transport the cane sugar across the Atlantic if there is domestic sugar.