AAFC Announces the new Canadian National Barley Cluster
On June 12th, 2024, the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food (AAFC), announced a new Canadian National Barley Cluster under the AgriScience Program – Clusters Component, an initiative under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
Learn More About AAFC Announces the new Canadian National Barley Cluster
The Barley Cluster is a $9.6 million research initiative directed to barley variety development for climate resilience and profitability, measuring and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from barley production and processing, and barley disease surveillance.
AAFC is investing up to $5.25 million through the AgriScience Program and over $4.3 million will come from industry (producer and private organizations), which includes a $391,227 commitment from BMBRI. Industry funders for the Barley Cluster are the Alberta Grains, Beef Cattle Research Council, Brewing and Malting Barley Research Institute, Canadian Field Crop Research Alliance, CBS Bio Platforms, Manitoba Crop Alliance , Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission and the Western Grains Research Foundation.
Rich Joy, Chair of the Brewing and Malting Barley Research Institute (BMBRI) states “BMBRI is pleased with the recent announcement of the Barley Cluster. This critical research investment will help to ensure the malting and brewing industry has access into the future to a supply of high-quality, and environmentally sustainable, malting barley”.
BMBRI was established in 1948 and has provided a voice for maltsters and brewers in malt barley research, and new variety development, for over 75 years.
