Sugar (sukker)
European Union is a major exporter of sugar due to subsidies, import restrictions and special trade agreements (Walter-Jørgensen, 2001) and the extend of sugar production in Denmark is likely to be independent of the Danish market demand. Thus a marginal demand for sugar in Denmark will supposedly not influence processes in Danish sugar beet production and Danish sugar industry but rather the extend of sugar export to countries outside European Union. The extend of sugar export from Denmark influence the marginal sugar producer somewhere in the world. The location of the marginal sugar producer is unknown so far, but probably located in a developing country where sugar can be produced cheap from sugar cane. It has not been possible to find appropriate information about the marginal sugar production processes abroad and no data referring to the present market situation are available. However, in order to provide data on Danish sugar production, a scenario has been envisioned where the public regulation of the sugar market is disregarded. Referring to this envisioned scenario, the main processes influenced by sugar demand are shown in the figure below, exemplified with sugar ex sugar factory.
The table below shows potential environmental impacts associated with sugar demand ex factory and ex retail. All data are provided per kg of sugar.
References Walter-Jørgensen A, Grinsted Jensen H, Elkjær Frandsen S (20001). Reform af EU’s sukkerpolitik - Konsekvenser for EU og udviklingslandene (in Danish). Statens Jordbrugs- og Fiskeriøkonomiske Institut. Rapport nr. 126 Landbrugets rådgivningscenter (2000). Tal fra Fodermiddeltabellen, Raport nr. 91. In Danish. |