EU: Malting barley variety list in for significant changes

Malting barley variety Planet will be the No. 1 variety on the European continent in crop 2016/17, H. M. Gauger GmbH reported on March 2.

Last year Planet’s marketing was slowed by the negative verdict of the German industry's barley committee. However, its agronomic and malt results are excellent, and many international and now also German brewing groups accept the variety without reserve.

Irina, Avalon, Propino and Concerto (for distilling) continue as top varieties, while other well-known barleys, e.g. Sebastian and Quench, seem to be on their way out.

Plant breeders promote the next generation: Ventina, Cervinia, Accordine and Laureate, the latter also suitable for the whisky industry. Besides other good characteristics, the malting cycle of these varieties is supposedly shorter, using less water and energy, thereby increasing existing malting capacities.