Sustainability Task Force formalized as a standing committee of the American Malting Barley Association
In December 2022, the American Malting Barley Association (AMBA) launched their Sustainability Task Force which sought to rally industry leaders around a core message and purpose to prove and improve the sustainable nature of the crop. After eighteen months of thoughtful industry collaboration, the Task Force requested formal adoption as a standing committee of the organization to continue their work, which was approved at the May 2024 board meeting recently held at the Woodford Reserve Distillery. The Board has requested the Committee meet and bring back recommendations on operating structure, leadership, and a proposed budget, if necessary. They also requested a continued partnership and encouraged collaboration with organizations such as the Brewing and Malting Barley Research Institute (BMBRI, AMBA’s sister organization in Canada), and the National Barley Growers Association (NBGA). The Committee plans to keep leadership from BMBRI engaged in their work and will request NBGA nominate barley growers to serve in an advisory capacity. The main priorities for the group moving forward will include: Continuing to support breeding and barley improvement efforts both through the internal AMBA grant process and through our influence with the National Barley Improvement Committee (NBIC). Focusing new work efforts on Nitrogen related research exploring alternative types, strategies for efficiencies, and recommendations for growers by leveraging the Land Grant network (University partners) for this work. Continuing to explore impacts of various interventions on barley production and on-farm productivity and profitability and their implications for greenhouse gas emissions. AMBA, in partnership with BMBRI, will also be launching a webinar series in the fall, Sustaining Barley, that will provide a forum for resource and knowledge sharing on emerging issues related to barley sustainability highlighting the latest advancements in research from both sides of the border. A formal notice on this series is forthcoming. The Sustainability Task Force is grateful for this opportunity to continue to work within the AMBA framework and looks forward to continued industry-wide collaboration.
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