Canadian barley gets $8 million boost

CALGARY—Agriculture Canada has put up $8 million to fund a variety of barley production projects with the goal of improving the Canadian barley market. The recipient of the grant, the Alberta Barley Commission, has 28 projects under its Barley Research Project Cluster that will benefit from the money, according to the Alberta Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development website.

“Agriculture Canada’s investment in barley is historic in that it shows the government’s commitment to the future of agriculture in Canada,” said Matt Sawyer, chair of the Commission, in a release. “We have pledged farmer and industry funding that will work with the federal government’s contributions to help us develop innovative programs that will grow our industry, and its profitability.”

The funding will go towards improving barley production from a cost-effective and sustainability perspective and broadening the market for the use of the grain in food manufacturing. According to the ministry, the cluster seeks to increase the use of “heart-smart” barley in food manufacturing, answering the demand for healthy food alternatives, and creating incentive for farmers to grow more food-grade barley.