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The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation is Australia's national science agency and one of the largest and most diverse research agencies in the world.

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Overview - Research

 
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Barley.
Barley is Australia's second largest grain crop.

Barley overview

CSIRO is developing new varieties of barley and improving identification techniques.

Barley is Australia's second largest grain crop, grown mostly for animal feed. It is also used as a food for humans and to make malt used to brew beer.

Australian exports account for approximately 18 per cent of world barley trade.

New barley for healthy foods

CSIRO has developed a new variety of barley, BARLEYmax™, with health benefits for consumers.

CSIRO has developed a new variety of barley, BARLEYmax™, with health benefits for consumers.

Bred using conventional techniques, BARLEYmax™ is high in resistant starch, which can help maintain bowel health, and has one of the highest levels of dietary fibre of any whole grain.

BARLEYmax™ can also be used to produce foods with a low glycaemic index, which can be useful in managing diabetes.

Whole grain foods made with BARLEYmax™ have very high fibre levels and taste good too.

Related information sheets

Related scientific papers

Read more about CSIRO's research with Farming & Food.
 

BARLEYmax is a trademark of CSIRO Australia

 
 

Fast facts

  • Research by CSIRO is improving Australian barley
  • CSIRO has developed BARLEYmax™, a new variety of healthy barley

Contact Information

Primary Contact

Ms Ilaria Catizone
Communication Officer
Plant Industry
Phone: 61 2 6246 5485 
Alt Phone: 61 4 1765 4633 
Fax: 61 2 6246 5299