Breeding two-row malting barley cultivars for western Canada at agriculture and agri-food Canada’s Brandon Research Centre

This Barley Research Cluster project was funded by Alberta Barley in collaboration with the Atlantic Grains Council, the Brewing and Malting Barley Research Institute, Rahr Malting and the Western Grains Research Foundation via the AgriInnovation Program.

Project lead: Dr. W.G. Legge, Scientist, Barley Breeding and Genetics Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Start Date: April 2013

End Date: March 2018

Alberta Barley’s contribution: project management
Total funding from other partners: $949,255

Benefits for barley farmers:
Developing new malting barley varieties is an ongoing process that takes many years. Germplasm currently in the breeding program and new germplasm being developed will result in new varieties that will increase the profitability and competitiveness of the entire barley industry through higher yields, improved disease resistance and enhanced malting quality.

Summary:
The project aims to develop two-row malting barley varieties for Western Canada, with improved disease resistance and agronomic performance combined with enhanced quality traits, in order to expand market opportunities at home and abroad. Emphasis has been placed on developing barley germplasm with improved resistance to fusarium head blight.