Russia plans to output about 1.4 million tons of malting barley by 2005 year. That figure twice exceeds the one of 2002. The information is given by the Ministry of Agriculture of Russian Federation under the branch target program “Brewer’s barley and malt”. The reason of developing the mentioned program is the barley grown in Russia, which quantity and quality don’t satisfy the modern brewing branch. Because of low quality of barley Russian breweries have to import about 50% of malt.

“Starting with 2001 year the import of malt became stable,” Russian media said. However, the prices are growing. In Russia in 2002 a ton of malt after customs clearance cost US$266 that is 38.5% more than the same price in 1999 year. Russian malt is 30% cheaper than imported one. So the national agro-industrial complex loses at least US$116 million per year. The brewers overpay US$35 million. “That is the price of a malting plant.”

According to the program of the Ministry of Agriculture the sown acreage of brewer’s barley will increase up to 500 thousand ha by 2005. However, the main problem of the branch is the destruction of barley selection base in Russia that doesn’t provide the implementation of new barley varieties.

“European Union implement about 12-15 new barley varieties per year,” according to the Russian source. However, it is not reasonable to use the foreign varieties in Russia, as they cannot withstand the Russian climate conditions.

The developing of “Brewer’s barley and malt” program will require about RUB 6.1 billion.

18 April, 2003