COLLABORATIVE RELEASE, TESITING, AND DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC SECTOR MULTI-USE BARLEY VARIETIES FOR ORGANIC GROWERS

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: TERMINATED
• Funding Source: OTHER GRANTS
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1010431
• Grant No.: 2016-51300-25731
• Project No.: ORE00149
• Proposal No.: 2016-04450
• Program Code: 113.A
• Project Start Date: Sep 1, 2016
• Project End Date: Aug 31, 2017
• Grant Year: 2016

Project Director
Hayes, P.

Recipient Organization
OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
(N/A)
CORVALLIS,OR 97331

Performing Department
Crop and Soil Science

Non Technical Summary
We will conduct a planning grant session in 2016, leading to an OREI proposal in 2017. We will assemble stakeholders from throughout the organic barley value chain in order to identify opportunities and challenges for a new form of the world's oldest crop: naked (hull-less) barley. Our long term goal is to provide organic growers, processors, and consumers with a crop, food, and raw material alternative that will be economically rewarding. Currently, organic barley end-uses and markets are stratified due the presence of the adhering hull and grain β-glucan content. Varieties intended for malting/brewing have hulls and low β-glucan due to prevalent brewing techniques. There are brewing technology solutions that allow for capitalizing on the significant advantages of naked barley, provided it has a moderate level of β-glucan. The hull precludes direct food use: it must be removed by pearling, and this process makes the grain ineligible for whole grain status. Therefore, food varieties should be naked, but if they have been bred for high β-glucan content they will be unsuitable for malting and feed. A moderate level of β-glucan can be achieved that will meet FDA guidelines for soluble dietary fiber in human diets and make varieties suitable for brewing and animal feed. Organic feed barley commands a premium, and naked varieties capitalize on this advantage. Our outreach objectives will be to familiarize growers, processors and consumers with the benefits and challenges of naked varieties and to provide guidance for capitalizing on the advantages these varieties offer can offer.

Animal Health Component

0%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

(N/A)

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
202	1550	1081	100%

Knowledge Area
202 - Plant Genetic Resources;

Subject Of Investigation
1550 - Barley;

Field Of Science
1081 - Breeding;

Keywords

hull-less barley

feed

food

malting

naked barley

organic

Goals / Objectives
The goal of the planning grant is to bring together stakeholders from throughout the organic barley value chain in order to identify opportunities and challenges for a new form of the world's oldest crop: naked (hull-less) multi-use barley. The outcome of the planning grant session will be a full proposal for submission to OREI. Our long term goal is to provide organic growers, processors, and consumers with a crop, food, and raw material alternative that will be economically rewarding and sustainable.

Project Methods
This planning grant evolved from discussions with stakeholders regarding the challenges of incorporating barley into organic production and marketing systems. The greatest challenges identified were the hull and β-glucan content. These factors force segregation and specialization of barleys intended for different purposes. We identified food, feed, and malt users with interests in developing new products and/or expanding current products involving barley. The discussion expanded to include plant breeders, who shared the status of naked barley germplasm development in their programs, and their enthusiasm for expanding organic breeding. This inclusive dialog revealed that there are naked barley varieties with multi-use potential available, grower willingness to try these varieties, and industry engagement in assessing this grain. Varieties and selections are positioned for release and commercial production at the outset of this grant, and advanced lines following close behind. Additional support for plant breeding, with goals established by stakeholders, will ensure a steady stream of future public varieties. Therefore, it will be possible to immediately proceed to commercialization and assessment and not have to wait while varieties are being developed. The next step in the process was identified as a focused and broad-based discussion amongst stakeholders, researchers, and outreach specialists to chart the most effective path forward for future research.

Progress 09/01/16 to 08/31/17

Outputs
Target Audience: The immediate target audience consisted of representative barley growers, food processors, malt processors, seed producers and researchers. The target audience was engaged from the outset in developing the planning grant concept, as evidenced from the letters of support. A subset of these stakeholders were engaged in the planning grant and were instrumental in developing the plan for continued stakeholder involvement. The participation of outreach specialists was essential in establishing and maintaining target audience involvement. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The session itself provided an on opportunity for training and professional development of all participants via the extensive networking, discussion, and brainstorming. The full proposal will fund a post-doc at OSU (the lead institution) and graduate students at collaborating institutions. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The full proposal led to the formation of a stake-holder advisory committee and extensive national linkages among scientists, farmers, processors, and end-users. These cross-disciplinary and trans-geographic networks will, and have, led to the dissemination of knowledge of, and enthusiasm for, naked barley for organic systems. The concept and execution of the NIFA-OREI supported project will be the focus of an invited chapter in Plant Breeding Reviews - to be published in 2018. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The Planning Grant session was held in Portland, Oregon November 30 - December 1. The session was attended by 24 scientists and stakeholders. The significant outcomes of the Planning Grant were those proposed: a successful, funded full proposal; an accepted invitation to prepare a chapter for Plant Breeding Reviews on the development of naked multi-use organic barley; and the development of a national network committed to strengthening organic agriculture through naked multi-use barley. Additional relevant details are as follows: The participating scientists included private consultants (economics and malting), Land Grant University scientists (plant breeders, a cereal chemist, and an animal nutritionist). Industry participants included farmers, members of the seed industry, bakers, maltsters, processors, and brewers. Outreach and Extension personnel represented each of the participating states. On day 1, all provided 15 minute presentations, followed by extensive discussion. On day 2, there was continued discussion, formulation of an action plan, and assignment of responsibilities for preparation of the full proposal

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Meints, B., A. Corey, C. Evans, T. Filichkin, S. Fisk, L. Helgerson, A.S. Ross, and P.M. M. Hayes. Registration of Buck Naked Barley. J. Plant Reg. in press.