Barley
Canada is the fifth largest producer of barley and the third largest exporter of malt barley. Canada currently exports 36% of its annual barley production.
Barley is an ancient cereal grain that has been grown and consumed for thousands of years. In North America, barley is a major crop used for animal feed as well as for malt for brewing beer. Barley is becoming increasingly popular as a healthy, locally produced grain in soup, cereal, and snack products.
Canadian farmers produce roughly nine million tonnes yearly, making Canada the fifth largest barley producer and the third largest malt exporter in the world. Cereals Canada collaborates with the barley value chain on a variety of trade related issues.
Canadian Barley Production and Exports
Economic Impact of Barley
Canada’s vital brewing sector is in the eastern provinces, while Western Canada dominates the direct economic impact of Canadian-grown barley. Almost all of the crop is grown in Saskatchewan and Alberta, and the region is home to much of the country’s barley malting capacity.
Source: The Economic Impact of Common Wheat on the Canadian Economy: 2022, LMC International
Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre
Cereals Canada supports the Canadian Malt Barley Technical Centre (CMBTC) through its work on the Keep it Clean program, government relations, public trust, and sustainability.
The CMBTC is an independent, not-for-profit research facility established in 2000 that serves the Canadian malting barley supply chain, providing high-quality technical services and marketing support to stakeholders including breeders, farmers, seed companies, exporters/importers, maltsters and brewers.