GEVES at the 80th IIRB Congress

On 7 and 8 July, the 80th congress of the IIRB (International Institute of Sugar Beet Research) was held at Churchill College, Cambridge (United Kingdom). The theme of this year’s event was: ‘The evolution of the sugar beet in a dynamic environment’.

The programme included several sessions of oral presentations, focusing on key issues facing the sugar beet sector. Topics covered included environmental challenges, weed control and resistance management, as well as issues relating to the increasingly numerous pests affecting sugar beet: rhizomania, cercosporiosis, the Yellow Virus and its vectors, the management of weevils, leafhoppers and the SBR (Low Yield Syndrome) complex.

The conference brought together participants from many countries, mainly in Europe but also from the United States and Asia. It provided an excellent opportunity to share international experiences, learn about recent advances in research, and strengthen collaboration amongst stakeholders in the sugar beet sector.

The next IIRB conference will be held in Brussels in 2028.