Activities & Projects

The Alberta Barley Commission represents it members – and markets the features and benefits of barley – through the following projects and activities.

Barley Health Claim Coalition
This project aims to have barley recognized as a “healthy” grain. A coalition of industry stakeholders is working together to ultimately educate consumers about the healthy benefits of barley, and make barley more competitive in the marketplace. In December 2005, the United States’ Food and Drug Administration approved a similar barley health claim.

Partners:

The Alberta Barley Commission’s efforts to have barley recognized as a “healthy” grain have been ongoing since 2006. The Commission is working with the Canadian Barley Food Coalition to obtain approval from Health Canada.

The Commission and the coalition have teamed with Dr. Nancy Ames of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Cereals Research Centre in Winnipeg to assess evidence for supporting the claim. Ames is examining a wide variety of information from around the world about barley’s effects on human and animal health, and the effects of cereal grain on cholesterol.

In compiling her assessment of acceptable studies and information, Ames is considering: the consistency of observations and effects; the levels (or doses) of barley consumed; the feasibility of consuming the actual dosages; and the demographics or characteristics of targeted consumers.

Her final report will provide definitive scientific evidence that strengthens the Commission’s and the coalition’s application to Health Canada.

Meanwhile, the Commission continues to gather support from coalition members and other industry stakeholders so that they can ultimately educate consumers about the healthy benefits of barley, and make barley more competitive in the marketplace.

This article originally appeared in Barley Country October 2008.

Also see Health Claim

Barley Baking Contest

For information on the contest, click here.

Healthy U Campaign
Healthy U was developed as a public information and education campaign by Alberta Health and Wellness to support and encourage Albertans to lead healthier lifestyles by providing them with access to information on healthy eating and active living.  The Commission assisted this campaign by providing healthy barley recipes for the 101 Nutritious Recipes program.  Visit Healthy U for more information and recipes.

Growing Alberta Editorial Board
Growing Alberta is a non-profit organization supported by the Government of Alberta and industry. It strives to increase consumers’ awareness of the province’s agriculture and food industry. The organization brings together producers, manufacturers and retailers in the effort to educate all Albertans about the scope and significance of the agri-food industry.

Playing a crucial role in helping the industry demonstrate its commitment to food safety, environmental stewardship, animal care and economic growth, Growing Alberta’s knowledge and connections allow it to delve deeper into emerging and existing issues, separating fact from fiction and addressing misconceptions.

Growing Alberta uses a number of communication tools to share information with Albertans, helping to develop a better understanding of our agri-food industry. As a member of Growing Alberta’s editorial and advisory board, the Alberta Barley Commissions contributes to numerous initiatives and projects, including:

• Food for Thought magazine – published four times each year, this high quality consumer magazine features agriculture’s role in health and wellness, the environment and food safety, as well as recipes and tips highlighting agri-business and made-in-Alberta products.
• Food for Thought Online – an e-newsletter distributed eights times a year to thousands of Albertans. It builds on many of the issues and trends featured in Food for Thought magazine.
• Growing Together – an e-newsletter directed toward industry groups and partners distributed approximately eight times a year
• www.growingalberta.com – the website in an online resource featuring a wealth of information on all aspects of agriculture and food, along with areas geared towards the media, parents, teachers and cooking enthusiasts.
• Growing Alberta Leadership Awards (GALAs) - Nominate an industry leader and champion for a GALA and show Albertans the people that set our industry apart from the rest.
• Harvest Gala – an annual celebration of the achievements and accomplishments of Alberta’s agriculture and food industry.

• Outreach and education programs in conjunction with our partners that help disseminate information about the industry to the public and encourage Albertans.

Calgary Exhibition & Stampede – Ag-Tivity in the City
Ag-tivity in the City is a family attraction at the annual Calgary Stampede. Every day offers fun, education and lots of activities about the food grown and raised in Alberta. The Alberta Barley Commission is one of many industry partners that helps urban dwellers learn more about their food and the people who grow and make it. Presentations focus on many aspects of food consumption, safety and nutrition, animal health and science and technology. Visit the Calgary Exhibition & Stampede website for more information.

Calgary’s Aggie Days & Stony Plain’s City Slickers
Calgary’s Aggie Days and Stony Plain’s City Slickers are annual, hands-on event designed for children and families -- and aimed at helping them understand more about farm life and food production, including barley. Both events are school field trips for thousands of grade-school children every year. The Alberta Barley Commission supports these events by providing barley products and information for our next generation of consumers.

Red Deer’s Agri-trade & Edmonton’s FarmTech
The Alberta Barley Commission is a regular supporter and exhibitor at Agri-Trade in Red Deer and Edmonton’s FarmTech. These annual events are among the largest agricultural trade and lifestyle shows in Alberta; they feature displays, demonstrations and programs for farm equipment and services as well as numerous formal and informal presentations and gatherings that connect to other producers and other industry stakeholders.

Classroom Agriculture Program
The Alberta Barley Commission proudly supports learning through the Classroom Agriculture Program (CAP).

This program helps Grade 4 students across the province learn where their food comes from – and what agriculture means to their lives. The program is not limited to barley; it looks at agriculture as a whole.

Volunteers from Alberta agricultural associations and communities deliver the program to classes during free, one-hour, hands-on presentations about agriculture. CAP also provides students with an activity book and teachers with additional resource materials.

CAP is supported a number of other agricultural associations as well as Alberta Education and Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development.

To register a Grade 4 class or to volunteer as a classroom presenter, call (403) 275-4400 or e-mail: abpfeedback@albertabeef.org.

Please note: the Commission refers all inquiries and requests for primary education presentations and materials to CAP.

Development and Commercialization of Barley Foods  
This is an extensive pilot-scale research project examining barley product prototypes and processes with improved functional and nutritional properties.  By partnering with grower associations, grain companies, and food companies, the project will provide an opportunity for

the growth of a profitable value chain. As well, this project is creating a collaborative product development strategy, which will allow market opportunities to be captured and ensure sustainable growth in the food barley sector. 

Cooperating scientists: Linda Malcomson, Canadian International Grains Institute; Kevin Swallow, Leduc Food Processing Development Centre.

Funding:
$35,000 - Alberta Barley Commission
$500,000 - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
$35,000 - Canadian Wheat Board
$5,000 - Maidstone Bakeries
Additional in-kind funding from Viterra and FarmPure Seeds
 
Putting barley on the menu
The Alberta Barley Commission and the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) are putting their support behind a project to develop new food products containing barley.

The Canadian International Grains Institute (CIGI) Development and Commercialization of Barley Foods project will develop barley flours with enhanced nutritional profiles (whole grain, betaglucan rich) for use in baked goods, pasta and noodle prototypes. Also as part of the project, the Leduc Food Processing and Development Centre (LFPDC) – a research and development facility operated by Alberta Agriculture and Food – will develop cookie, cracker, snack food, nutrition bar and meat emulsion prototypes.

The project will focus on producing food products for North American consumers. Funding for the project is provided through the Agriculture & Food Council of Alberta and the federal government’s Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri- Food (ACAAF) program. The Commission and the CWB along with industry sponsors will also provide financial support and supply the barley required for the project through in-kind donations from industry partners.

Two bakeries will provide financial support and technical input to develop various products. The companies will also be part of an industry steering committee for the project.

Andrea Hilderman, the manager of Identity Preserved & Food Barley Programs for the CWB’s department of Product Development & Marketing Support, says the project will use four hulless barley varieties: CDC Rattan, CDC Fibar, Millhouse and McGwire. Research for the project will be led by Dr. Linda Malcolmson at CIGI and Dr. Kevin Swallow at the LFPDC.Both researchers have completed a number of studies and projects examining barley for food uses. The project aims to:

Hilderman says the project will take barley beyond pot and pearl barley in North America by finding ways to incorporate barley into existing products without changing their taste and appearance.

Other than its traditional use in soups, stews and salads in North America and as a rice extender in Japan, barley is rarely used as a food ingredient, says Malcolmson. But she says that interest in barley as a food grain is growing thanks to the reported health benefits associated with barley. Barley is an excellent source of beta-glucan soluble fibre and contains antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients such as phenolic acids and lignans.

ATCO Kitchen Theatre
Barley is one of dozen’s of Alberta-grown products featured each year in the ATCO Kitchen Theatre as part of the Western Living Showcase at the Calgary Stampede. Both entertaining and informative, this event targets adults and gives them ideas, demonstration, recipes – and, of course, taste tests of our province’s foodbasket.  Brian Hinton of Calgary’s Lakeview Bakery works in partnership with the Commission on the ATCO Kitchen Theatre stage, promoting healthy and tasty barley recipes to hundreds of Alberta’s consumers each year.

Shochu Barley Commercialization
This project is developing a value chain with key farmers to supply a premium barley market in Japan with grown in Alberta Shochu barley that consistently meets end-user specifications. See stories in Barley Country March 2008 (page 11) and Barley Country January 2008 (page 14).

Cooperating scientists: Jim Helm, Patrica Juskiw, Joseph Nyachiro of the Lacombe Field Crop Development Centre; Darcy Driedger, Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, Brooks; Richard Joy, Rahr Malting Canada Ltd.

Funding:
$ 36,500 - Alberta Barley Commission
$ 292,767 - Agriculture and Food Council of Alberta
$ 32,900 - Agriculture Council of Saskatchewan
$ 3,290 - Investment Agriculture Foundation of British Columbia

Additional funding from Rahr Malting Canada Ltd. and Alberta Agriculture & Rural Development.