AEGIC launches new project to boost Australian barley exports in Central and Latin America

Capitalising on barley markets south of the US border will be the focus of a visit to Central and Latin America this month by senior staff from the Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre. Demand for Australian barley and malt is growing in the region, creating opportunities to further diversify markets for Australian growers according to AEGIC. AEGIC markets manager lead Mary Raynes and barley and oat quality program manager Jack King will meet with customers in Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Brazil and Chile. They will gather information to better inform Australian barley breeding and market engagement strategies. “This major project will give the Australian barley industry access to objective intelligence on these markets’ preferred malting barley quality attributes,” Ms Raynes said. “These insights will enable Australian breeding companies and Grains Australia to make more informed decisions around breeding and classification of Australian barley varieties, and will assist Australian trade representatives when engaging with these markets.” The trip will build on AEGIC market engagement conducted in Central and Latin America last year, but marks the first step of a new information-gathering project delivered by AEGIC with investment from Grains Australia. “Ultimately, the project aims to position Australian barley as the preferred choice in the region and diversify markets for Australian barley growers,” Ms Raynes said. An initiative of the Grains Research and Development Corporation, Grains Australia is responsible for vital services and functions that improve the industry’s competitiveness and profitability. The new project was endorsed by its Barley Council, which provides strategic advice to the Grains Australia board. Barley is WA’s second biggest crop after wheat and accounts for 25 per cent of the State’s grain production according to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. Its export value is worth more than $1 billion annually in grain and malt, with the Middle East the largest market for WA barley. AEGIC is an initiative of Grains Australia and the WA Government through DPIRD.