Grainswest - Fall 2026

Fall 2026 Grains West 12 THE DUNDEE, SCOTLAND-BASED International Barley Hub (IBH) aims to unite barley growing countries to improve the crop’s resistance to climate change. The initiative is supported by its parent organization, James Hutton Insti- tute, an internationally renowned plant science research institute. Scotland’s top crop, barley generates $15 billion annually, largely derived from the whisky industry. “There’s much more to barley than whisky,” said Tim George, director of IBH. For example, 70 per cent of Scottish barley is used as animal feed. Roughly a decade in the making, the initial goal of the IBH was to unite researchers in barley genetics to improve the tolerance to stresses. About a year ago it strengthened its mandate to ex- pand international collaboration, which has been limited to individual projects. It will also focus on factors that may en- hance the crop’s success in the field. This expanded reach includes regenerative agriculture and climate resilience as well as data science, which includes modelling of complex datasets. Drought, economic volatility, excessive rainfall, heat and soil degradation affect crop production. While these challenges vary from Scotland to Canada, they can be dealt with co-operatively, said George. “These are global issues. If we tackle them on a global scale, we can do more.” The IBH builds on decades of barley genetics research. In a recent project, researchers identified genes involved in characteristics such as rooting depth that can affect a crop’s ability to find water during drought. Historically, barley varieties have been bred for resistance to a single stressor; however, George suggested this approach may no longer be adequate. Weather is increasingly variable. Rather than de- velop a variety that performs well under a single condition, researchers pursue “plasticity,” the ability of a plant to adapt to change during the growing season. IBH examines how genetics interact with agronomic practices and soil health. This includes assessing their place in the development of regenerative production systems. Varieties bred for high-input con- ventional systems may not necessarily per- form the same way in systems designed to build soil health and reduce degradation. The distinction may become increas- ingly important to farmers. A variety that performs well under ideal conditions isn’t necessarily one that provides best value when conditions turn against it. The goal is to develop barley that can best cope with these swings while improving the production systems, said George. International collaboration can more effectively navigate global concerns in barley production. Rather than work independently on similar problems, the IHB wants farmers, industry groups and researchers to identify barriers to success and build international teams to tackle them. This could bring together agron- omists, geneticists and soil scientists to tackle problems across disciplines. Partic- ipants could combine field data to better model the effects of climate change. The IHB also looks to establish part- nerships and satellite hubs to extend a network well beyond Scotland. George welcomes Canadian participants. “We want them to be involved; be a partner, bring your skills and experiences and help us deliver those solutions to global farmers and the value chain.” “We believe Canada’s barley industry is stronger when we work with others,” said Peter Watts, managing director of the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre. “We welcome opportunities to exchange research and experience with other producing countries and tackle common challenges. Our goal is to keep barley productive and profitable for farmers while continuing to deliver the quality our customers need.” Researchgroupseeksco-operation Scotland’s International Barley Hub reaches out to the world Barley is Scotland’s No. 1 crop, and the country’s IBH initiative aims to improve its “plasticity” through collaboration with fellow barley-growing nations. THE FARMGATE BY EMILY R. JOHNSON • PHOTO COURTESY OF INTERNATIONAL BARLEY HUB