New Heritage Breeding for accelerated trait development in barley
Lead Research Organisation:
John Innes Centre
Department Name: Crop Genetics
Abstract
This project develops a business strategy to accelerate the breeding of crop varieties by connecting all users in the supply chain. We revived Chevalier, a Victorian premium malting barley, and discovered that it is resistant to Fusarium head blight (FHB), an important disease that contaminates grain with mycotoxins. The objectives are to 1) evaluate the agronomy, malting characteristics and brewing potential of Chevalier 2), identify and perform malting trials on FHB resistant lines from a cross between Chevalier and a modern variety; FHB resistance would reduce the need for pesticides, 3) develop a business plan for New Heritage Breeding which evaluates heritage varieties for niche markets and accelerates breeding of varieties for specific markets. The project benefits crop breeders, farmers, maltsters and consumers who will obtain new products with reduced environmental impact. The project defines a model for other crop improvement programmes.
Publications
Goddard R
(2019)
Mapping of agronomic traits, disease resistance and malting quality in a wide cross of two-row barley cultivars.
in PloS one
| Description | We have demonstrated that a heritage variety of barley, Chevallier, can be successfully grown and malted. Agronomic conditions for quality malt production were defined through working in partnership with farming and malting companies. We registered Chevallier as a conservation variety, and developed procedures for bulking and treating seed. Brewing trials demonstrated good performance in a range of conditions. A visit to the USA demonstrated strong demand for heritage malt, and a need to develop new varieties for production in the Eastern states. We identified valuable resistance to Fusarium Head Blight in Chevallier, and we have been mapping this in a genetic cross. We have also identified other heritage barley varieties with FHB resistance which cen be used as the basis for breeding. The original objectives have all been met, and the project has created a business opportunity which will be developed in the future. In addition, we have explored the opportunities for accelerated breeding using genomic selection which will be developed in future grants. |
| Exploitation Route | The findings will be taken forward through the establishment of a company focussed on heritage barley and pre-breeding of new varieties for the Eastern USA. The panel of barley lines that have been used is genetically diverged, and is a valuable research tool for variety improvement. This work will be developed in partnership with researchers in Europe and the USA. A 'partnering award' grant application is currently in preparation to strengthen these links with North American researchers. We successfully obtained the partnering award and have establishes collaborations with scientists in USA and Canada. We have also started the company, New Heritage Barley Ltd as a result of this project. We continue to get enquiries about heritage barley and have been invited to contribute to a webinar organised by Crisp Malting Group in 2020 |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
| URL | http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/news/food-security/2014/140908-pr-barley-business-for-beer-brewing.aspx |
| Description | We have identified a commercial opportunity through the production of heritage malt. As a result of this, the researcher employed on the project was successfully awarded a BBSRC Enterprise Fellowship to develop a business based on this research. The business comprises the production of heritage barleys, and the development of new varieties primarily focussed on the Eastern USA and Canada. In addition, a new line of research into genomic selection for accelerated breeding has been developed which will be the basis for further research. We are developing this further in collaboration with our North American partners, and the genome analysis centre (TGAC). We successfully obtained the partnering award with USA and Canada, and started New Heritage Barley Ltd, a new company specialising in reviving heritage barleys and undertaking pre-breeding activities. New products with heritage barley malt are now beginning to appear on the world market, for example in the introduction of a new beer range from Greene King, a regional brewery with international impact We have been invited to present the commercialisation story to several audiences, most recently as an invited speaker at the Heritage barley and malt conference in Nuremberg, a meeting of industry representatives from around the world. New Heritage Barley Ltd is also investing in further research and is a PhD iCASE partner on two projects investigating the barley root microbiome (John Innes Centre) and the impact of barley genetics on agronomy and flavour traits (Liverpool University) Further invitations have been received to present the project and further interactions with industry have occurred. In particular, we presented the work on genetic diversity of barleys for flavour and sensory attributes to the Food and Drink Wales Industry board. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2015 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
| Impact Types | Societal,Economic |
| Description | Enterprise Fellowship |
| Amount | £40,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2014 |
| End | 08/2015 |
| Description | Capturing novel quality and soil health traits for sustainable barley production |
| Organisation | New Heritage Barley Limited |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | this is a collaborative project to characterise novel traits in barley for the brewing and distilling industries. Our contribution is to provide seed and field trial facilities as well as expertise in barley growing |
| Collaborator Contribution | They provide expertise in association genetics and mapping. They also provide facilities and expertise for metabolomics analysis. New heritage barley is a spin-out company from the John Innes Centre that is investing in this project |
| Impact | The collaboration only started in October 2018, with a student being recruited to the project |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Capturing novel quality and soil health traits for sustainable barley production |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | this is a collaborative project to characterise novel traits in barley for the brewing and distilling industries. Our contribution is to provide seed and field trial facilities as well as expertise in barley growing |
| Collaborator Contribution | They provide expertise in association genetics and mapping. They also provide facilities and expertise for metabolomics analysis. New heritage barley is a spin-out company from the John Innes Centre that is investing in this project |
| Impact | The collaboration only started in October 2018, with a student being recruited to the project |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Conservation agriculture collaboration |
| Organisation | Shimpling Park Farm |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We visited Shimpling Park Farms to see how conservation agriculture practises were being used to add value to farming |
| Collaborator Contribution | Owner of Shimpling Park Farms contributed to the development of a subsequent workshop on Conservation Agriculture |
| Impact | A workshop was held at the John Innes Centre involving farmers and researchers, including scientists from the USA |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Identifying the genetic determinants of barley colonisation by the growth-promoting biocontrol agent Pseudomonas fluorescens |
| Organisation | New Heritage Barley Limited |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This is a collaborative project led by Jacob Malone at the John Innes Centre, and I am a partner in the project. I provide expertise in barley growing and production, and on measurement of phenotypic traits |
| Collaborator Contribution | New Heritage Barley Ltd is a start-up company from the John Innes Centre, providing expertise in barley production for the malting and brewing industries. They also provide access to commercial trials and malting facilities |
| Impact | The collaboration started in 2017 when the student was recruited to the project. A presentation was made at the JIC 50th anniversary exhibition in 2017 |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Company Name | New Heritage Barley Ltd |
| Description | The company evaluates heritage barleys for the brewing and distilling industries and undertakes pre-breeding activities. The company is registered seed merchant and supplies the seed to the malting industry under contract |
| Year Established | 2014 |
| Impact | Revival of Chevallier malt has enabled the introduction of a new product, formulating beers of distinctive character. The malt is sold worldwide |
| Description | A taste of Genetic Diversity: demonstration activity for the John Innes Centre open day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A demonstration of our research was performed at an open day at the John Innes Centre, involving hands on activities and discussion on the theme of 'a taste of genetic diversity. The activities involved showing how brassicas were used in baby leaf salads, and how heritage barley varieties were used in brewing beer |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Barley business for beer brewing nets scientists enterprise funding |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Press release about Enterprise fellowship |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Barley research work at the JIC |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Visit with Carl Griffey and Wynse Brooks, Virginia Tech, Greg Roth Penn State, Scot Welsh Deer Creek Malting Pennsylvania to discuss heritage barley project |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Barley to Beer: Science into Practise |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Invited presentation at the Moleculr Biology of Plant Pathogens meeting, Norwich, Uk. The primary audience is PhD students |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Beer returns to Norwich after 100 years |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Local TV broadcast about revival of a Victorian barley variety |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| Description | British Society for Plant Pathology presidential meeting Some Like It Hot |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | presented work on stating a company as an invited speaker to the Bish Society for Plant Pathology |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Chevallier project collaboration |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | visit by Goose Island brewery to discuss collaboration |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Demonstration of malting barley trials |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Open Farm Sunday at Gressenhall Museoum of Rural Life: |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Demonstration plot at Cereals Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Filed plot demonstration on malting barley, John Innes Centre, UK |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Developing Markets for Heritage Malts |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Presentation at the Great Lakes Hop and Barley Conference, Detroit, Michigan. The audience comprised farmers, maltsters, brewers, researchers |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Discussions in North America about heritage barley trials |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Visit trials and discuss collaboration with Michigan State University and at Cornell University, Penn State and Agriculture and Agrifood Canada about barley trials |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Friends of JIC Event Ridout C.(2015) Heritage barley plots |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Demonstration plots at Friends of JIC event |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | From barley to beer; a comparison of heritage and modern barley varieties |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Poster presentation at North American barley breeders workshop, Minneapolis |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Grain that gives good head |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Podcast about the heritage barley project with Dewing Grain Ltd |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://www.dewinggrain.co.uk/podcast-item/?id=37 |
| Description | Heritage Malt webinar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | I was invited to participate in a webinar arranged by Crips Malting Group on the subject of heritage malts for the brewing and discilling industries |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://crispmalt.com/news/webinar-11-crisps-heritage-malt-programme/ |
| Description | Heritage barley business |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Presentation to Lord Iveagh of Elvedon Farm Estates about heritage barley business |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Heritage barleys and disease resistance |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Meeting and discussion with Norsk Handverksmalt about potential collaboration |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Making An Impact in Plant Science Research Invited, Keynote presentation at the Royal Horticultural Society annual PhD Symposium, Wisley |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invites speaker presenting at the Royal Horticultural Society an research results |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Malt of the Earth |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Interview and article published in Great British Food |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Netherlands Trade Visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | A delegation from the Netherlands visited and presentations of our science were gives. The delegates requested further information about our research |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Open Farm Sunday at Morley |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Open farm study, demonstration of field plots |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Our Plants Our Future |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Annual conference of the British Society for Plant Pathology, raising awareness of the importance of plant diseases in agriculture and forestry, including policies to provide control |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| URL | https://www.bspp.org.uk/conferences/bspp2021/ |
| Description | Pint of Science |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | present to the general public as part of the Pint of Science event |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://pintofscience.com/ |
| Description | Presentation of FLIP project and New Heritage Barley case study to BBSRC |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Presentation to BBSRC as part of the contribution to 'Excellence with Impact' competition |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Project Landrace |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | collaborative project with industry to evaluate new product ideas in the brewing sector |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Re-introducing heritage barley: Science into practise |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Invited speaker at the RMI analytics Heirloom and Terrior Barley and Malt Symposium. The results of the projects including commercialisation of heritage malt were presented |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Reviving Chevallier: the Victorian malting barley |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | NIAB innovation farm, microbrewers event. A conference to link Small Medium Enterprises (SME) to research scientists |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| Description | The Future of Beer is in the Past, Molecular Biology of Plant Pathogens Meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation about starting a company |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Transatlantic science connection for better beer |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Press release about partnering award |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | policy on conservation cereal varieties |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Meet with Julia Rzepecka of VVA Europe to prepare case study to present to EU commision as a Preparatory action on EU plant and animal genetic resources |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | presentation oat Cereals 2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Demonstration of field plots at the annual Cereals event |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.cerealsevent.co.uk/ |
| Description | presentation to National Farmers Union |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | presentation of the New Heritage Barley project to the NFU |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | presentsation to the Flying Farmers |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Flying farmers are a group of farmers interested to learn about the latest trends in research. the presentation involved talking to them about our work, and engaging in a discussion with them |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | radio interview for Pint of Science |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | radio interview about the Pint of Science event |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | the Heritage Barley Project |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Norfolk Mardlers are an influential group of farmers and landowners based in the East of England. The presentation was about how the germplasm resources unit at the John Innes Centre was the starting point for re-introduction of heritage barley cultivars into commercial production for malting and brewing |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |