TIES between SA graingrowers and overseas buyers were strengthened this week, with representatives from brewing giant Carlsberg travelling to SA from Switzerland and Denmark.
Carlsberg is the world's fourth largest brewery and has been working with the University of Adelaide's barley breeding program for the past decade and the AGG Co-op for the past three years.
Growers taking part in the AGG program to grow specialist barley for Carlsberg are spread from Crystal Brook through to Vic's western district, but the primary regions where the Charger barley is grown are the Lower North and South East.
Charger barley is a proven performer in the field, stacking up against popular variety Commander in National Variety Trials. It is a Null Lox variety - a malt barley which has certain qualities that, when brewed, result in a beer which has an extended shelf life.
Carlsberg vice president of research Birgitte Skadhauge - who is based in Denmark - said the Carlsberg Research Centre had strong ties with SA and the University of Adelaide's barley breeding program.
"At the Carlsberg Research Centre we make the crosses and first selections, and then the material is transferred here to Adelaide," she said.
"We have some very promising new Null Lox varieties coming through the pipeline.
"It's a pleasure to work with the University of Adelaide, they are one of the worldwide leaders in cereal breeding."
The new lines will have a focus on brewing quality as well as traits such as disease resistance.
Ms Skadhauge said Carlsberg ran similar programs to AGG in countries across the world including France, Poland and Russia.
"We want to involve farmers as much as possible and get feedback from them," she said.
Carlsberg global category manager for malt and barley Adrian Dyter - who is based in Switzerland - said Carlsberg was very happy with the product it was receiving out of SA.
"It's great to work with farmers directly," he said.
"Carlsberg is expanding in many areas in Asia, and particularly in China, and we see Australia as being a natural seller of barley to the Chinese market and helping to meet that extra demand."
* Full report in Stock Journal, November 27, 2014 issue.
Paula Thompson
Stock Journal's markets editor.
Stock Journal's markets editor.
