Growing sugar beets for sugar, as an alternative to importing sugar made from sugar cane, is an example of
a) import substitution. b) a quaternary sector activity. c) flexible production. d) vertical disintegration. e) deindustrialization.

A) import substitution.

Explanation:

Import substitution is the process of replacing items sourced solely from other countries with domestic production/industries.  It reduces or eliminates the reliance on importation and is usually put in place for key products.

It is also practiced by developing countries or economies as a policy to reduce dependency on other countries, as well as limit the effects of foreign trade on the foreign exchange market.