Sugarbeet: Can it be a Potential Feed Stock for Ethanol Production in India?

After achieving blending of ethanol[at]12% in petrol during the Ethanol Supply Year 2022 -23, during the current & subsequent years meeting the blending targets appears challenging due to multiple issues associated with the availability of sugarcane and grains, there is dire need for developing alternate feed stocks to achieve the target of producing 10, 000 + million liters of ethanol to make EBP20 a success.Sugarcane production and crushing since always witnesses surges and even with sugarcane crushing[at]350 million tonnes it is to be too optimistic to think of achieving the blending target of 20% unless ethanol' is made available through other sources.Sugar Beet may be one such crop which has the promise to become a potential feed stock for ethanol production in future if climate resilient indigenous varieties are developed.