Harper Government Supports Canadian Malting Barley to Make New Inroads

News Release

November 14, 2014 – Winnipeg, Manitoba – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Shelly Glover, Member of Parliament for Saint Boniface and Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, today announced an investment of $1,950,000 to the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre (CMBTC) to support its market development efforts in existing and new growth markets.

With this investment, CMBTC aims to maintain and boost Canada's global competitiveness by being the focal point for technical support and market knowledge to companies involved in selling Canadian malting barley or malt to export markets. CMBTC will achieve this by providing technical training and problem-solving to stakeholders, ensuring new varieties meet international customers' needs, and providing direct sales support to international customers.

Quick facts

Founded in 2000, the CMBTC facilities include state-of-the art- brewing and malting equipment that allows it to duplicate any malting or brewing system in the world producing commercial quality malt and beer.
Canada's brewing industry drives $14 billion in value-added activity and over 160,000 jobs.
Canada supplies approximately 20% of the global malting barley market and is the world's third largest exporter of malt.
This investment is being made through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's AgriMarketing Program, a five-year, up to $341-million program under Growing Forward 2.

Quotes

"The high quality of Canadian malting barley is recognized worldwide, enabling Canada to be a major competitor in the world's malting barley and malt markets. Today's investment will boost Canada's competitiveness in this specialized market, resulting in direct benefits to our economy, both right here in Winnipeg and across the country."
- Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages

"Canada's malting barley industry is a global leader for the value-added services that we provide. The funding for this project will help provide technical support to maintain existing market share and generate growth in expanding markets."
- Peter Watts, Managing Director and Director of Brewing at CMBTC

Additional links

Growing Forward 2 (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
AgriMarketing Program (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre

Contacts

Emily Hogeveen
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz
613-773-1059

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
Follow us on Twitter: @AAFC_Canada

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Harper Government Supports Canadian Malting Barley to Make New Inroads

News Release

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