Coveney keen to revive sugar beet industry despite department cuts

THE prospects for reviving the sugar beet industry received a boost at the Agricultural Science Association annual conference in Maynooth yesterday.

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney, responding to questions, said the figures he had seen to date from the first of two feasibility studies are “very persuasive”.

He said he strongly supports the European Commission proposals to end sugar quotas by 2016.