Barley
Barley is one of the five main grains in the world and it can be used as food, feed and even fuel. The most well known product of barley is malt, which is used in the beverage industry to make beer and whiskey. Barley is very nutritious, high in fibre and lowers cholesterol when consumed as porridge or cereal. As a crop, barley prefers cool, humid climates and it is well suited for a diverse cropping system. Barley cultivation generally requires little pesticide input and is relatively resistant to drought.Did you know…
- Malt, barley’s most well known product, is used to make beer and whiskey.
- In England, barley grains were used for measurement (3/4 barley corns per inch).
- Roasted barley is a popular drink in Asia.
Most important export countries
- France
- Australia
- Ukraine
- Germany
- Canada
Most important production countries
- Russia
- Germany
- Canada
- France
- Ukraine
Production chain
In industrialised countries, farmers harvest barley with machines but it can also be done by hand. The majority of barley farmers participate in a cooperative, but this is not always the case. Barley is usually transported by trucks, but it can also be transported by boats and trains.
Problems
The sustainability issues related to barley production usually depends on the producing country. In Canada and the US, for instance, they accept the use of around sixty different pesticides which are banned in Europe. An example of this is 2,4-D, a pesticide often used to produce barley that has been linked to pre-natal brain damage, breast and other forms of cancer. Barley production has also been associated with degradation of the natural ecosystems and the decline in animal populations, notably farmland birds such as the skylark.
Major Chain Issues
In the barley sector, Fairfood International has identified the following major chain issues:
| Major chain | Production stage |
 Degradation of Natural Ecosystems |
Production |
 Corruption |
Whole chain |
 Harmful Agricultural Practices |
Production |
Solutions
The guide below shows certification schemes whose standards indicate a match with some or all of Fairfood’s researched major issues for this commodity. To learn more about the schemes, click on their logo.
 EU Organic Labels |
 Global Gap |
 Ecocert Fairtrade |
| Production |
Production |
Production |
