A new improved national accreditation system is expected to ensure that new Australian malting barley varieties get to malthouses and breweries sooner.
A review of the previous accreditation system was undertaken by in 2016, with investment from Barley Australia, breeders, maltsters, farmers and the Grains Research and Development Corporation.
New malting barley varieties will continue to be evaluated in a multi-stage process, a program that now has an improved funding model, as well as being more equitable, sustainable and transparent.
Post-accreditation customer support and marketing will also be enhanced through improved data.
“As well as being more flexible, the new system will mean the Malting and Brewing Industry Barley Technical Committee (MBIBTC) will have more robust data at hand when making accreditation decisions,” comments Dr Megan Sheehy, Barley Australia’s executive chairperson.
“Importantly, the new system also recognises the need for post-accreditation market support to ensure Australian malt barley customers understand and accept newly-accredited varieties. Seasonal and regional malting data, generated by PMA, will be made available to the Australian industry to support marketing of new malting barley varieties.
“Ultimately, by combining the ability to execute more rapid malt accreditation with stronger market support, growers and the whole Australian industry should be better placed to benefit from the genetic advances being made by barley breeders.
“Barley Australia acknowledges and thanks all parties for their valuable input and support. In particular, we thank Australian growers, through GRDC, for their valuable ongoing contribution to this important industry program
“Finally, we are very grateful for Australia’s commercial maltsters and the members of the MBIBTC for their invaluable in-kind support.”