British Sugar has temporarily paused contracting and seed ordering for the 2024/25 beet contract as price talks resume.

Talks stalled earlier this year after failing to reach agreement for next year's crop. 

British Sugar was heavily criticised by National Farmers' Union (NFU) Sugar because it felt the company jumped the gun by writing to sugar beet growers - before a deal was reached - with a baseline "offer".

Daniel Green, director at British Sugar - which has a sugar factory at Bury St Edmunds - said: "This is in order to help facilitate negotiations with NFU Sugar and endeavour to agree prices and terms for next year’s contract."

An NFU Sugar spokesman said: "British Sugar and NFU Sugar have agreed that negotiations will recommence this week, aiming to agree a contract for next year as soon as possible.

“British Sugar will be temporarily pausing contracting and seed ordering for the 2024/25 beet contract from 10am on November 22, 2023.

“This is in order to help facilitate negotiations with NFU Sugar and endeavour to agree prices and terms for next year’s contract.

“British Sugar and NFU Sugar have agreed that negotiations will recommence this week, aiming to agree a contract for next year as soon as possible."