Barley and Sustainable Brewing: Breeding Innovations and Climate-Smart Solutions (Part 2)

In the first part of our Barley and Sustainable Brewing deep dive, we explored the rich history of barley breeding and its crucial role in the brewing industry. We discussed how this ancient crop has evolved over millennia and the challenges it faces in today’s changing climate. Now, let’s dive deeper into the cutting-edge techniques and collaborations that are shaping the future of sustainable barley production.

Advanced Breeding Techniques:

Plant breeders now have a powerful set of tools at their disposal that dramatically speed up the process of traditional breeding while increasing the odds of creating superior new varieties. These tools include:

• Genomic Selection (GS) and Marker-Assisted Selection (MAS): These platforms allow plant breeders to understand more about the strengths and weaknesses of parent plants, including advanced prediction capabilities. Using these tools greatly increases the odds of producing superior offspring through traditional breeding techniques.
• Doubled Haploids (DH): In traditional breeding, every seed is a little different during the first 5-6 growth cycles after the creation of a new variety—known as the percentage of heterozygosity. By the 5th or 6th generation, all the seeds start to become the same, but the 4-6 year timeframe it takes for these new genetics to “settle down” is time that pathogens and climate change have to gain on these new advancements. Doubled Haploid (DH) technology reduces these 4-6 years down to a single year, effectively leveling the playing field between genetic advancements and the problems they were created to solve.

Using DH technology in combination with GS and MAS platforms optimizes traditional breeding techniques and allows new varieties to be introduced to the market faster. This is an excellent example of advancing the goals of a supply chain while staying comfortably within the socially acceptable bounds of breeding technology.

Collaboration with Universities and Research Institutions

Collaboration with universities and other research institutions has produced commercially successful cultivars of barley. These programs excel at utilizing resources to create new and improved genetics. In many cases, this is where their role ends, leaving the question: now what?

Breeders are the first step in the brewing supply chain, and they need partners—especially in the brewing and distilling space. This is where the American Malting Barley Association (AMBA) steps in. Proximity collaborates with other supply chain partners through AMBA, who facilitates an environment where value chain members can create positive change. AMBA channels research funding and provides guidance to programs to find varieties that meet industry needs.

Virginia Tech’s (VT) barley breeding program, for instance, breeds new winter malting varieties that are adapted for a challenging Mid-Atlantic climate. Farmers producing malting barley for Proximity’s Mid-Atlantic supply shed face significant disease pressure and volatile weather patterns each season. New genetics that are able to hit malting quality targets and mitigate the risk farmers battle each season are crucial to building a resilient supply chain. This is an excellent example of AMBA connecting industry standards with the best U.S. breeding programs.

“Between brewers, distillers, maltsters, and farmers, I would argue that it is the role of the malting company to lead commercialization efforts for new varieties and introduce shared value for our supply chain partners.” Zach Gaines, Director of Raw Materials and Logistics at Proximity Malt.

ReGenMalt: Pioneering Climate-Smart Brewing

Proximity Malt’s ReGenMalt exemplifies innovative barley breeding for sustainable brewing. By collaborating with plant breeders, conducting on-farm trials with producer groups, and putting new genetics in the hands of regenerative farmers, a pathway for new Climate-Smart varieties is created.

By breeding improved disease resistance into barley varieties, farmers will have the potential to reduce their use of synthetic inputs. With the development of higher-yielding varieties, increased production coming from the same acres will be more sustainable. When varieties can be grown in changing climates or in new regions, the barley supply chain will be more resilient. With regenerative agricultural practices contributing healthier soil, cleaner water, and lower carbon emissions, better barley varieties will help the barley supply chain meet future challenges.

Future Outlook: Climate-Resilient Varieties

Recent developments in barley breeding are yielding varieties specifically designed to withstand the challenges posed by climate change:

• “Buzz” Malting Barley: Developed by Dr Jamie Sherman at Montana State University, this drought-resistant variety is suited for dryland barley farming has recently become available to the craft brewing community.
• Avalon: In the Mid-Atlantic region, Proximity Malt has introduced the Avalon variety, developed in collaboration with Virginia Tech. Avalon offers a shorter plant growth cycle, excellent disease resistance–reducing the need for chemical inputs– and very high test weight grain–improving quality in the malthouse.
• Leandra: In the Mountain West region, Proximity Malt has introduced the Leandra variety from the Breun breeding program in Germany. Leandra shows exceptional yield potential and greater tolerance to drought conditions, making it ideal for the region’s climate challenges.

Conclusion: Integrating Innovation for Sustainable Brewing

The future of sustainable brewing starts with innovative barley breeding. By combining advanced breeding techniques with collaborative research and a focus on regional adaptation, the craft brewing industry is well-positioned to face the challenges of climate change while continuing to produce high-quality, sustainable products.

Proximity Malt’s work with barley breeders and the ReGenMalt initiative is making it easier for craft beer producers to participate in Climate-Smart brewing by supporting farmers transitioning to regenerative farming practices. As we move forward, integrating these sustainable practices from field to glass will be crucial in future-proofing the craft beer industry against climate change.

Ready to brew with Climate-Smart barley? Download the ReGenMalt impact analysis or reach out to try ReGenMalt and play a role in future-proofing craft beer from climate change.