UK: Malting barley e-Conference approaching, HGCA said

Barley growers, traders and processors are being encouraged to take part in the Home Grown Cereals Authority’s annual Malting Barley e-Conference later this month. The HGCA is sticking with its malting barley e-conference in a fortnight's time but the event is planned for two days rather than five to tighten its focus.

The conference, on Monday Jan 16 and Tuesday Jan 17 and open to members of the Malting Barley e-Club, will feature papers covering the whole malting chain from growing to end markets.

Day one will look at the world malting barley market outlook, the malting barley chain and the market view from a distiller's perspective and the second day will focus on the consumer, concentrating on the consolidating EU malt market, varieties available to UK producers and new legislation covering mycotoxins.

"We have seen some major changes in the UK malting barley supply chain over the last eighteen months, with much concern over the future of the UK malting barley market within the context of the global market," said Josh Dadd, market analyst and editor of the Malting Barley e-Club.

He said the HGCA had concluded that the e-format worked for all concerned. "We are able to reach a larger audience than could attend a traditional conference," he said. "The format is popular with growers as they can access the papers at a time that best suits them, and is a cost-effective way for HGCA to disseminate the information."

Throughout the week, delegates will have the chance to email questions to the authors and all questions and answers will be published through the Malting Barley e-Club. Anyone wishing to access the e-Conference should visit the HGCA website and register for the Malting Barley e-Club.

05 January, 2006