A combination of genomics and the sourcing of Europe’s best genetic materials is driving a unique barley breeding programme for the UK and Ireland. The work was initiated in 2017. Coordinated by the French-owned Secobra Recherches company, a number of new spring barley varieties have already been developed. This is to be followed by the unveiling of new malting varieties

Southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region plans to expand the planting area of highland barley to 2.2 million mu (146,667 hectares) this year to ensure a stable increase in the output of the long-established Tibetan grain on the “Roof of the World.” Of the total planting area, that of high-yield farmlands in Tibet will reach 600,000 mu this year, according to

Spring barley can help growers drive down their carbon footprint by using better varietal genetics and using the benefits of cover crops. Spring crops, in general, are seen as better than autumn-sown ones at carbon and nutrient recycling. Neil Fuller, independent soil and carbon specialist, says new spring barley varieties give high performance, are very efficient nitrogen users, perform better