USA: Researchers try to develop new barley varieties

In US, researchers try to develop new barley varieties in order to produce from it ethanol. The Agriculture Research Service, an arm of the US Department of Agriculture, has researched more than 100 barley varieties and have focused on some specific varieties. The motive for the researchers to look to barley as a source of ethanol is to overcome the non-availability of corn or sugarcane in some areas. For instance in the US, corn is not available in the east and west coasts, whereas barley is available in plenty.

But there is a point, the barley's major drawback is its lower starch content compared to corn. Starch content in barley is 50-55 % compared with 72 %in corn. Barley cannot be used as a feedstock for ethanol production as it has an abrasive hull. These hulls cause expensive wear and tear problems on milling equipment

The hull-less barley varieties losing their hull during harvesting have been developed. These varieties, which are seen promising, have more starch and protein but less fibre than hulled varieties. When the new varieties are zeroed in, researchers hope that these can address the energy issues. This sort of strains could as well get better prices for the growers, according the release of the research service.

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