Barley Investigated for Bio-Fuel Potential

OLDS - May 25/07 - SNS -- Canadian barley growers hope a new research project will open the door to use of their grain to produce ethanol.

The three-phase Barley and Bioproducts Opportunities Project (BBOP) is jointly funded and managed by the Western Barley Growers Association and the Alberta Barley Commission. It will receive a $262,000 grant from the Biofuels Opportunities for Producers Initiative (BOPI); $45,000 from Syngenta; $10,000 from Ceapro; $2,000 from Wilbur-Ellis Canada; and $1,000 from Parkland Agri Services ($1,000).

Researchers will study the opportunities and challenges growers would face to establish regional, barley-based ethanol production facilities. The project will also look at removing valuable fractions from barley prior to ethanol production and using a byproduct of barley ethanol production - distilled grains - in commercial applications, including cattle feed.

The project's first task will be to determine the relative competitiveness of barley versus other major crops, by analyzing ethanol yield and the amounts of starch and sugar that can and can't be extracted. The project will report in its initial findings in September 2007 and its final findings in March 2008.