|Cattanach, Alan -|
Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: October 29, 2012
Publication Date: November 25, 2013
Citation: Campbell, L.G., Cattanach, A.W. 2013. The America Society of Sugar Beet Technologist, advancing sugarbeet research for 75 years [abstract.] Journal of Sugar Beet Research. 50:43-44. Technical Abstract: The American Society of Sugar Beet Technologists (ASSBT) was created 75 years ago when a group of researchers that had been meeting informally as the Sugarbeet Roundtable adopted the constitution and by-laws that provided the basis for an organization that continues to foster the exchange of ideas and information. Biennial meetings and the publication of research articles have facilitated communication among the members. Prior to the launch of the Journal of the American Society of Sugar Beet Technology in 1956 (renamed the Journal of Sugar Beet Research in 1988), articles were published as proceedings. The availability of all issues of the journals and proceedings to the general public on the internet was announced in 2011. Membership of ASSBT increased during the first 25 years from 256 two years after the formation of the Society to 633 on the 25th anniversary. As a result of changes in the industry, membership dropped to 550 on the 50th anniversary of the Society and in recent years has been near 300. Interactions with the international community begin as early as 1940 when a few Europeans were members. In 1960 ASSBT sent a delegation to the International Institute for Beet Research (IIRB) meetings in England and the first joint IIRB-ASSBT congress was convened in San Antonio, TX in 2003. Canadian researchers have been a part of ASSBT since the early days of the Society. Research priorities have ranged from the development of mechanical harvesting equipment and coping with multigerm seed to controlling threatening diseases, postharvest storage, resistance to broad-spectrum herbicides, etc. ASSBT has facilitated the cooperation necessary for overcoming numerous problems, allowing the industry to increase productivity and remain economically viable, and is poised to continue its role as a contributor to the future success of the industry in a highly competitive environment.