UK: Concerto breeders excited about its approval for malting in France

Spring malting barley variety Concerto has been accepted onto the French Barley Malt and Beer Committee list adding an additional export marketing opportunity for growers, Farmers Weekly Interactive reported on June, 16.

“This is the first variety since Optic to have all three approvals with the IBD in the UK as well as France,” said Mark Glew, senior breeder for Limagrain.

Because most of Europe looks to France for its malting barley supplies, this opened valuable export opportunities for growers, he said. “That’s why we’re so excited about this French approval.”

Limagrain also had three new spring malting barley varieties in Recommended List trials, which had been recognised by the Institute of Brewing and Distilling.

Overture, Odyssey and Chronicle were all sons of Concerto, but offered a 4-5% yield premium, top quality and rhynchosporium resistance, said Mr Glew.

Enough seed was available for brewing and distilling testing of the varieties in 2012 and it was hoped they would gain full IBD approval in 2013, he said.

17 June, 2011