Grainswest - Tech 2025

Tech 2025 Grains West 48 BY PETER WATTS • PHOTO COURTESY OF ZOOMAGRI Canada’s malting barley sector harnesses hot new technology PROCESSING BARLEY INTO MALT for brewing is a persnickety business. Each lot of barley can vary in quality, which requires maltsters to adjust their processing approach. Factors such as protein level, germination and water ab- sorption often require the process to be tailored by batch and sometimes adjusted in real time to produce a quality finished malt product that meets the brewer’s needs. Given the challenges associated with malt processing, and to minimize vari- ability, individual maltsters use a single malting barley variety. As a result, buyers include minimum purity specifications in their contracts with farmers, with the industry standard set at a minimum 95 per cent varietal purity. Traditionally, varietal purity has been verified using DNA technology. While accurate, DNA testing is relatively ex- pensive and requires turnaround time of several days to produce results. In recent years, however, new imaging technolo- gies, often powered by AI, have emerged as a faster more cost-effective alternative. In 2023, the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre (CMBTC) and inter- national ag tech company ZoomAgri partnered to develop an algorithm that can identify and assess the purity of Ca- nadian barley variety samples. By helping ensure consistency and confidence in varietal identity, the technology supports the quality standards expected in both domestic and export markets. Once de- veloped, the algorithm will be able to test samples in a matter of minutes with 96 to 98 per cent accuracy and at a fraction of the cost of DNA analysis. To build the algorithm, dozens of pure samples from each malting barley variety were collected, scanned and digitized. Samples were pulled from the Western Canadian Field Trials. The machine produces high resolution scans, then AI analyzes and compares against its inter- nal database to develop a model capable of accurately identifying each variety. AI revolution improvesanalysis THE MALT HOUSE To support the development of AI- based variety recognition, the CMB- TC installed and calibrated two new ZoomAgri units in May 2025. These ZoomVarieties machines resemble stand- ard office scanners or photocopiers but are equipped with specialized slots that hold individual seeds within the scanner bed. A sample—roughly a cup, or several hundred seeds—is poured into the holder and evenly spread out. The equipment scans free-flowing grain without the need for sample preparation. This makes the process faster and more efficient than DNA analysis. The algorithm being developed corre- sponds to 11 key Canadian feed and malt- ing barley varieties: CDC Copeland, AAC Connect, AAC Synergy, AC Metcalfe, CDC Austenson, CDC Churchill, CDC Fraser, Claymore, Esma, Oreana and Sirish. The system can detect and distin- guish multiple varieties within a single sample, a critical feature for quality con- trol and to meet contract specifications. This technology provides a quick and reliable screening tool for malting and grain companies to verify varietal purity. It’s particularly valuable for international transactions where contracts require minimum 95 per cent purity, and pen- alties may apply if specifications aren’t met. AI increasingly shapes Canada’s agri- culture sector. In the grain industry, it’s helping to reduce costs, improve efficien- cy and strengthen quality assurance. This supports Canada’s competitive position in global barley and malt markets. As the technology evolves, it will very likely play a larger role in streamlining supply chains and meeting the industry’s rising expecta- tions for traceability and quality. Peter Watts is the CMBTC managing director. A ZoomVarieties machine assesses barley samples quicker and cheaper than DNA analysis.