A high-yielding spring barley variety specifically targeted at the Scottish distilling sector has achieved an important malting milestone.

Achieving Provisional Approval 1 for Distilling and Grain Distilling on the IBD variety list is a key milestone for Forensic, says Robert Hiles.

Forensic spring barley, from Syngenta Seeds, was only formally launched by its breeder towards the end of last year – as a variety potentially suited to both malt and grain distilling.

Now, just seven months later (in June 2009) it has progressed to Provisional Approval 1 for Distilling and Grain Distilling on the IBD variety list, explains Robert Hiles, the Global Malting Barley Business Manager for Syngenta Seeds.

“This is a significant achievement for Forensic and one which we hope will give Scottish growers extra confidence that Forensic is progressing well through end user testing.

“Forensic has yielded well in the North and is well-adapted for Northern conditions, being slightly earlier maturing than Optic and with good resistance to brackling. A variety suited to both malt and grain distilling will hopefully be a welcome addition because it gives growers greater flexibility in end market choice.”

For end markets, Mr Hiles says Forensic has also produced good quality characteristics. These include appropriate grain protein levels, depending on whether the target is grain or malt distilling, high fermentability, low viscosity and beta glucan, and good DP and DU, and it is a non-GN variety, he adds.

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