Sugar beet

The sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) is a root vegetable, a variety of beet selectively bred to increase its original sugar content from 2 percent to around 20 percent. This sugar is sucrose, which is the same form of sugar obtained from the sugar cane. Sugar beets provide around 20 percent of the world's sugar needs.^[1]

The sugar beet is an important agricultural product. As well as sugar, it can be used to make molasses and beet pulp for livestock.^[2] It may have potential as a source of bioenergy.^[2]