Breeding pioneers

Since 1920 we have been actively involved in breeding and have always been an innovator, introducing new improved sugar beet varieties.

1928 saw the introduction of our first competitive sugar beet variety, MARIBO-N.

In the early 1950s, when the first polyploid variety, MARIBO-P was introduced, the MARIBO varieties dominated the world market. This novel variety had an increased sugar yield of 7% compared to other available varieties.

Maribo Seed introduced monogerm varieties in the 1970s.This represented another major step forwards in the cultivation of sugar beet as the requirement to single the crop disappeared.

Maribo Seed has also been at the forefront of developing rhizomania resistant varieties. Already in 1960 we started breeding for resistance to this
disease in Italy and registered the world’s first resistant variety in 1982. Since then, rhizomania tolerant varieties have been developed for all
countries affected by this disease.

Since the early 1990s, Maribo Seed has targeted research at changing the shape and surface of the roots to reduce the soil tare. Minimising the soil tare has huge benefits for the growers, the sugar industry and the environment.

Today we offer a selection of sugar beet varieties, which compared to previous varieties have to a great extent reduced the soil addhering.