b'Spurring Acceptance Part of the problem, Watts says, is that Canada is a victim For Watts, the situation further emphasises the need forof its own success with groundbreaking varieties like AAC Canadas seed industry to help spur adoption of newer varieties. Synergy, CDC Copeland and AC Metcalfe. The challenge of introducing and gaining acceptance forThose varieties offered major gains in the areas of yield and new malting barley varieties by different groups such as grow- quality. Growers saw that right away. It was a pretty easy sell for ers, maltsters, and brewers in the Canadian malting barleythem. Synergy also worked well for the craft industry in terms industry, as well as in other countries, is a big one, he notes.of its quality profile. Everyone loved it and saw the benefits, It highlights that for a new variety to be widely accepted, itand after the CMBTC did promotional work in China, it got needs to align with the needs and wants of these three groups.accepted there too, Watts says.The complexity involved in introducing new varieties in theNew varieties come with their own benefits. They have malting barley industry, and the work that goes into makinghigher extract levels than previous varieties, which is particu-that successful, is significant. larly important for brewers as extract is a key factor in their Getting new varieties widely adopted involves encouragingprofitability. In addition, varieties like Connect and Fraser have producers to grow the new varieties, providing quality data tohigher yields than some other varieties, which makes them maltsters and brewers, and going through strict quality controlmore attractive to producers. processes to ensure consistency in the final product. The processOther advantages of the new varieties include better lodg-is complicated and expensive, as it requires transitioning opera- ing resistance, improved disease resistance, and higher plump tions, elevator staff, and contracting programs.kernels, which processors like as they contribute to high extract It requires coordination between various stakeholders, suchlevels. as domestic industries, seed companies, and grain companies,However, each end user may have slightly different needs, to ensure that there is enough supply to meet the demandsso finding the right variety for each use case can be a challenge. of different markets, Watts says. He adds that the process isDespite this, the new varieties are presenting significant benefits iterative, meaning it involves repeated testing, scaling up, andthat will help drive the industry forward, Watts says.coordination to ensure the successful adoption of new maltingIn the end, he says the seed industry is in the perfect posi-barley varieties in the industry. tion to speed up the phasing-in of new varieties. However, there Grow your business, not your workloadSeedtrakr helps seed growers and agribusiness professionalstrackandmanagetheirseed inventory,sales,processing,andlogistics. Whether youre a small seed grower or a larger agribusiness,Seedtrakrhasthefeaturesand capabilities you need to succeed.For a free trial, email us at contact@seedtrakr.comSEPTEMBER 2023GERMINATION.CA 33'