News & Information
Call for Letters of Intent – Barley Cluster (2023-2028)
04/10/2021
To: Canadian Researchers
Subject: Call for Letters of Intent – Barley Cluster (2023-2028)
The Canadian Barley Research Coalition (CBRC) is a not-for-profit entity established in 2021 with a mandate to improve the profitability and competitiveness for Canadian barley through long-term research investments. The CBRC is leading the next Barley Cluster and is pleased to announce a call for Letters of Intent for a submission to the next Agriculture Policy Framework (APF) with an expected start date of April 1, 2023.
The current Canadian National Barley Cluster (2018-23) is a $10 million-dollar funding initiative with support from the following organizations: Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, Alberta Barley Commission, Brewing and Malting Barley Research Institute, the Canadian Field Crop Research Alliance (whose members include Grain Farmers of Ontario, Producteurs de grains du Québec, Atlantic Grains Council, and SeCan Association), Manitoba Crop Alliance, Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission, and Western Grains Research Foundation.
Please click on the following link at https://barleyresearch.ca/documents/#LOI to access documents that will assist you in applying for the call for Letter of Intent – Barley Cluster (2023-28).
Letter of Intent Information Session
The CBRC will be holding an information session on the next Barley Cluster in the coming weeks. Please stay tuned for more information on a date and time.
Due date: The deadline to submit a Letter of Intent is November 15, 2021 (11:59 PM MST). Late submissions will not be considered.
Please feel free to pass on the details of this call for Letters of Intent to fellow researchers within your organizations. If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact me.
BMBRI announces $385,000 in research funding for the National Barley Research Cluster
15/01/2019
On January 15th, 2019, the Honourable Laurence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, delivered the official announcement for the National Barley Research Cluster (Barley Cluster) under the Canadian Agriculture Partnership (CAP) program.
The Barley Cluster is a $10.2 M research initiative that aims to improve the competitiveness of barley as a cereal crop choice for Canadian producers and to deliver barley quality that will meet the diverse and evolving needs of its customers. Funding for the Barley Cluster comes from the $6.3M Government commitment announced today, and a $3.9 M commitment from industry.
BMBRI is investing $385,000 over five (5) years to activities focused on variety development, barley disease, malting and brewing issues, crop management practices, and knowledge and technology transfer. Mary-Jane Maurice, Chair of the BMBRI states “The Barley Cluster is a significant research investment that will contribute to ensuring BMBRI members continue to have access to a supply of high quality malt barley.”
“The Barley Cluster is the result of the collaborative effort of the funding partners and Barley Council of Canada” said Gina Feist, Executive Director of the BMBRI . “It builds on the success of the previous Growing Forward II Barley Cluster and illustrates the importance of continued Government and industry investment in the agriculture sector in Canada.”
Industry funders for the Barley Cluster include the Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission, the Western Grains Research Foundation, Alberta Barley Commission, the Brewing and Malting Barley Research Institute, Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association, and the members of the Canadian Field Crop Research Alliance) which include Grain Farmers of Ontario, Producteurs de grains du Quebec, Atlantic Grains Council, and SeCan.
BMBRI Approves Breeding and Research Grant Funding Allocation for 2018-19
02/05/2018
April 30, 2018,
BMBRI Board of Directors has approved up to $190,000 in total grants for breeding, agronomy and quality research projects in 2018-19.
This includes some funding allocation for projects within the 2018-2019 AgriScience Cluster under the federal Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) program. BMBRI is part of the Barley Cluster funding consortium along with a number of grower organizations. The Cluster application was submitted on behalf of the funding consortium by the Barley Council of Canada. Details of specific successful projects and recipients will be announced in the coming weeks once Agriculture Canada has responded to the Barley Cluster application.
BMBRI’s 2018-19 research funding approval also includes significant spending for non-Cluster projects led by scientists at various research centers including CGC’s Grain Research Lab, Winnipeg; Agriculture Canada, Lacombe; Alberta Innovates-FCDC Lacombe; McGill University. Following recommendation from BMBRI’s Technical Committee, BMBRI’s Board of Directors has allocated funds for non-Cluster projects that can address BMBRI’s strategic research goals for improved malting barley quality at the breeding and pre-breeding level, addressing some current important disease challenges such as FHB and best management practices for malting barley production/selection. Further details on specific projects can be got by contacting BMBRI.
BMBRI to Participate in Next Science Cluster
23/01/2018
BMBRI Board of Directors has approved funding for related breeding and research projects for BMBRI participation in the next Barley CLuster, Agronomy Cluster and Canadian AGriFood Trade Alliance (CFCRA) Cluster applications under the federal program called Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) AgriScience Program (2018-2023). More details will be announced when the Cluster applications have been evaluated and approved at the federal level.
More of this federal program are outlined as follows:
BMBRI Statement against Desiccants for Malting Barley
24/08/2017
July 25, 2017
BMBRI Statement – Desiccant Use on Malting Barley:
For almost twenty years BMBRI malting and brewing industry members have been consistent with the following position statement for the information of malting barley growers and their crop inputs retailers.
“BMBRI members require that barley offered for selection for malting must not have been treated with glyphosate or any other chemical that acts as a desiccant on the barley”
Malting and brewing industry BMBRI members’ opposition to the use of pre-harvest desiccants on malting barley remains unchanged. Individual BMBRI malting and brewing industry members purchasing malting barley from growers in Canada have their own means of implementing this position in their malting barley production and selection/delivery contracts. Reported results from recent agronomic research on use of glyphosate as a desiccant to malting barley do not provide BMBRI with sufficient evidence to change the above position. Growers are also cautioned that any label information on glyphosate or other products that suggests they are approved for use as desiccants on malting barley is not supported by the Canadian malting and brewing industry members of BMBRI.
BMBRI’s position is consistent with a similar position from the American Malting Barley Association (AMBA) below representing its members who buy malting barley and other brewing products in North America, including from Canada.
Current AMBA Position:
“The American Malting Barley Association, Inc. (AMBA) strongly opposes the use of desiccants or herbicides such as glyphosate for post-heading treatment of malting barley, wheat, or other grains in North America being processed for malting, brewing, and distilling. The AMBA Board of Directors cites concerns expressed by the organization’s Technical Committee for potential chemical residues and effects on germination from such treatments that can impact processing or the quality of the final product. Glyphosate is not labeled for post-heading application on malting barley in the United States as a pre-harvest aid to kill weeds, as a desiccant to dry down the crop, or for any other reason.”
Dr. Michael P. Davis, AMBA President, notes that “our members will not knowingly buy malting barley, wheat or other grains, regardless of the grain’s origin, that are treated after heading with these chemicals and residue testing is being performed.”
For further information contact Michael Brophy (mbrophy@bmbti.ca) or any Canadian malting company representative.
BMBRI participation in next Barley Research Cluster (2018-2023)
05/04/2017
BMBRI’s Technical Committee is currently engaged with other value chain stakeholder and funding consortium organizations to develop and support an approved list of project applications for the next national Growing Forward Agri-Innovation Program (GFIII AIP) Cluster for the period 2018-2023. BMBRI will participate with provincial grower commissions and Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF) under with coordination by the Barley Council of Canada to submit this application for a cluster of projects what would receive BMBRI-grower and federal funding. Details of the full GFIII AIP Cluster application will be available towards the end of 2017.
BMBRI Approves Breeding and Research Grants for 2017-18
BMBRI Board of Directors has approved a $140,000 in total grants for breeding, agronomy and quality research projects in 2017-18. This includes the final year annual contribution to the 2013-2018 Agri Innovation Program (AIP) Barley Breeding and Research Cluster (BMBRI annual grant of $87,175), plus over $50,000 for a number of other non-AIP breeding and research projects. BMBRI’s Board of Directors has also allocated provision for potential additional projects that may be submitted during 2017 that can address BMBRI’s research goals for improved malting barley quality traits and best management practices for malting barley production and selection.
BMBRI Announces Additional Research Grants for 2016-17
28/10/2016
BMBRI will provide a total of $142,175 in total grants for breeding, agronomy and quality research projects, which includes a continuation of an annual contribution to the 2013-2018 Agri Innovation Program (AIP) Barley Breeding and Research cluster of $87,175, plus $55,000 for a number of other non-AIP breeding and research projects.
For details see 2016-17 BMBRI Research Grants
BMBRI Announces Research Grants for 2015-16
25/06/2015
Following its annual Board of Directors meeting in Winnipeg on June 16, BMBRI has announced its annual research grants for 2015-16 for malting barley breeding and research. BMBRI has been providing such research funding since its establishment in 1948 in support of its core mandate – development of improved malting barley for growers and industry in Canada.
