Minister MacAulay announces $5.2M federal investment in barley research for a more resilient, sustainable crop

Ottawa, Ontario – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Barley is an important Canadian cereal grain grown for malt, feed, food, and forage and is instrumental in crop rotations.

Today, the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced a total investment of up to $5,257,073 to the Canadian Barley Research Coalition through the AgriScience Program – Clusters Component, an initiative under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

The goal of this Cluster is to support research that will lead to a more resilient barley sector that is better equipped to respond to a changing climate and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Barley plays a key role in meeting diverse needs in the food and beverage industry, as well as livestock feed. Among other initiatives, the Barley Cluster research activities will explore:

• improving barley sustainability through integrated genetic diversity, nitrogen, and plant growth regulators,
• developing Canadian barley varieties that are more resistant to climate change,
• developing next-generation barley traits for economic profitability and environmental sustainability in Canada, and
• disease resistance to improve environmental, economic, and sector resiliency.

Further research and development in the barley sector is essential to maintaining its competitiveness and to allow for industrial and economic growth.