The prairie barley industry is welcoming an $8 million, five-year federal investment into industry research, concentrated largely at Alberta’s Lacombe Research Centre.
The new research involving Agriculture Canada scientists, University of Saskatchewan researchers and industry direction will be aimed at making the industry more sustainable and market-responsive.
“These dollars are exactly what the industry needs,” said Alberta Barley Commission chair Matt Sawyer from Acme, Alta. “We’re excited. I think this will open up real opportunities.”
When he announced the funding in Lacombe July 9, agriculture minister Gerry Ritz said the money can help develop everything from new environmentally sustainable production practices to breeding new high-yield varieties or better products for consumers.
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The government says barley exports — malt and feed — were worth more than $470 million last year and total farm revenues from barley were $729 million.
Sawyer called the federal funding “a game changer. With an investment like this, barley producers will reap the rewards of innovation for years to come.”
Ritz said the money could be used to develop new low-cholesterol varieties that could make barley more of a consumer food product.
However, Sawyer said in an interview that the priority for the industry will be increasing feed and malt varieties that cater to existing markets.
“There is a real potential for food barley varieties for sure but at this point, I would say that market for food barley is basically non-existent,” he said. “It is an interesting market with an interesting potential but I would say it is not a big focus.”
The federal investment comes from the five-year $698 million AgriInnovation program that was included in the federal-provincial Growing Forward 2 policy framework that took effect April 1.
In collaboration with researchers, the program calls for the industry to direct the research to its priorities.
The Alberta Barley Commission will be in charge of dispersing the funds to research projects.
