United Beet Innovation Center (UBIC)
At the United Beet Innovation Center (UBIC), we perform research to develop the sugar beet, fodder beet and chicory varieties of the future.
Did you know the development of a new variety can take up to 10 years?
At the UBIC, we’re able to significantly speed up this process. Thanks to cutting-edge technologies and innovative research methods, combined with the expertise of our highly skilled teams, we can now develop varieties faster than ever before.
Key figures
13,000
square meters of glasshouses
2,000
square meters of laboratories
Millions
of plants undergo research in our center
Root crop research 2.0
Our research at the UBIC facilitates studies under a broad spectrum of conditions representative of beet and chicory cultivation environments. This encompasses
- exposure to numerous pests and diseases,
- exposure to diverse climates and soil types,
- various agricultural practices such as fertilization and crop protection.
That’s how we make sure we develop the most suitable root crop varieties for each agricultural situation.
The UBIC houses the Product Innovation department with breeders and expert scientists covering a wide range of domains, and the Phytopathology laboratories and greenhouses, dedicated to supporting breeding by testing for a wide range of biotic (pests and diseases) and abiotic stresses (e.g. heat, drought, light intensity, air humidity, soil fertility).
Each of these research compartments at the UBIC can be climate-controlled separately, allowing us to simulate a wide range of growing conditions regardless of external weather. This way, we can create the ideal conditions for research as well as for beet and chicory seed production and growing, so the breeding process can move forward a lot faster and with more precision.
The automation of key processes at the UBIC also substantially increases our capacity, enabling us to handle an even larger plant volume than before. This is crucial, considering the immense amount of analyses that have to be performed at the very early breeding stage.
Of the millions of plants that are extensively researched at the center, our breeders continue with only a few selected seeds originating from father and mother plants. The best offspring are multiplied on a larger scale to be evaluated in outdoor trials in different conditions. By constantly eliminating the plants that don’t meet our high standards, we narrow down our selection to only the very best possible varieties to launch on the market.
Working at the UBIC
Our dedicated employees are the drivers of success at the UBIC. Each day, they put our values – humility, innovation, agility and resilience – into practice. Read the testimonials of some of our colleagues to find out what they love about working at the UBIC!
“I’ve already gained a lot of exciting experiences during my time at the UBIC so far. My work is challenging and offers many opportunities to develop myself. There’s a great team atmosphere and open communication, which makes working together pleasant and efficient.
The UBIC is an interesting and modern work environment with complex installations – this makes the work extra dynamic and instructive.”
“I enjoy working at the UBIC. The atmosphere is warm and collegial; everyone is friendly and helpful. My immediate colleagues are excellent in their domain, and I really feel at home in our team.
What makes my job so fascinating is the variety of tasks – I get to work in the lab, in the greenhouse and in the field. That variety keeps the work interesting and challenging. No two work days are the same, and I love that!”
“I started at the UBIC as an interim employee. After having been able to try out different types of work in the greenhouse, I am now working in a team responsible for the first crosses, where I found the range of tasks very enjoyable and varied.
After a successful interim period, I was happy to be able to sign my permanent contract. My work experience here has been nothing but positive.”