Intro -- Contents -- Preface -- Context -- A short history of sugar beet breeding -- The objectives of the AKER programme -- Sugar beet today -- What has changed since the launch of AKER -- The international sugar economy -- Have AKER's obligations to the ANR been fulfilled? -- Genotyping tools and methods -- Sequencing and molecular markers -- Processing of genomic information -- Implementation of the information system -- What is the international impact of the AKER programme? -- Phenotyping tools and methods -- Phenotyping programme -- Phenotyping of seeds and seedlings -- Phenotyping in vegetation, in the field -- Will the AKER programme meet the expectations of the beet industry? -- New genetic material -- Double the rate of annual yield growth -- General outline of the AKER programme -- Evaluation criteria for the 3,000 hybrids -- Results achieved -- Are the achievements of the AKER programme up to the ambitions of departure? -- An open programme -- Complementary programmes -- Answers to new questions -- A dynamic contribution to modern agriculture -- A partnership, collaborative, multidisciplinary programme -- A transversal programme -- A research-education-business continuum -- The power of communication -- An international dimension -- And now, what is the 360� perspectives for the AKER programme? -- Glossary -- Main scientific publications -- Aker partners -- Aker collaborators -- Photos copyrights.