The IRS, founded in 1930, is an initiative of the Dutch sugar industry. At that time, the sugar industry was in need of more and better beets that could increase the factories’ yield. Thorough research was intended to contribute to this goal.
Since then, the IRS has developed into the leading knowledge and research center for sugar beet cultivation in the Netherlands. It also conducts research on chicory. The core tasks of this independent organization are research, information provision, and professional services, primarily for the sugar beet and chicory processing industry, as well as beet and chicory growers.