Sugarbeet production is a major contributor to rural economies in north dakota and minnesota and plays an important role in the U.S. Sugar supply

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded North Dakota State University $728,000 on February 15, 2026, under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (CFDA 10.310) to develop and test a portable, low-cost biosensor for early detection of Cercospora leaf spot in sugarbeets.

The biosensor uses advanced biological detection techniques and simple manufacturing methods to identify the disease at very early stages before visible symptoms appear, enabling growers to make fungicide applications based on real-time disease risk rather than visible symptoms or fixed schedules. The research team will construct and validate the device in greenhouses and commercial sugarbeet fields in North Dakota and Minnesota, compare performance against standard laboratory tests, and evaluate whether the tool reduces fungicide use, improves yields, and lowers production costs. Results will be disseminated through field demonstrations, grower meetings, and educational materials.

Performance is based at North River, North Dakota, with work continuing through February 14, 2029. Sub-recipients include Mississippi State University and the Regents of the University of California at Riverside, each delivering collaborative research on the portable biosensor partnership for early detection and management of sugarbeet foliar diseases. Mississippi State received its sub-award on March 18, 2026; UC Riverside received its sub-award on March 31, 2026.

One of the most serious threats to this industry is cercospora leaf spot (CLS), a plant disease that can reduce yields, lower sugar quality, and increase production costs. To control this disease, growers often rely on repeated fungicide applications, which can be expensive and raise concerns about environmental impacts, human health, and the development of fungicide-resistant pathogens. Current laboratory testing methods for early disease detection are accurate but slow, costly, and impractical for routine use in farmers' fields. As a result, growers often apply fungicides based on visible symptoms or fixed schedules, rather than real-time disease risk, leading to unnecessary chemical use and avoidable losses. This project will develop and test a low-cost, portable disease-detection tool that allows growers to identify CLS at very early stages, before visible symptoms appear. Using simple manufacturing methods and advanced biological detection techniques, the research team will create a biosensor that can be used directly in the field. The technology will be tested in greenhouses and commercial sugarbeet fields in ND and MN, and its performance will be compared with standard laboratory tests. The project will also evaluate whether using this tool can reduce fungicide use, improve yields, and lower costs. Results will be shared through field demonstrations, grower meetings, and educational materials. If successful, this project will help farmers make more informed disease-management decisions, reduce environmental impacts, strengthen rural economies, and support a more sustainable and resilient agricultural system.