Climate helps barley productivity grow

The weather has helped Brazilian barley production. Despite the decrease in the cultivated area, the good productivity of the crops resulted in a volume 13% higher compared to last year. The grains have also met the beer quality parameters to supply the malt industry.

The climatic frustration with the 2023 winter harvest impacted barley production, resulting in a reduction in the cultivated area this year. The decrease in the area was -6% compared to the previous year, a reduction that was offset by the increase in productivity, resulting in a 13% higher production volume, reaching 442 thousand tons of barley.

“Last year, only 30% of the barley production in Rio Grande do Sul was used for malt production, and 70% of the harvest in Paraná was used by the beer industry. This harvest, I believe that the utilization rate will be over 90%, with excellent quality grains for malting,” says researcher Aloisio Vilarinho, from Embrapa Trigo. The researcher’s observation has been confirmed by the Classification and Certification department of Emater/RS, which has already processed 52 thousand tons of barley (almost half of the production in RS), with 95% of the grains classified for beer production being approved.

Growth associated with the beer industry

The main destination for Brazilian barley production is the malt industry, which is the basic input for beer production. Brazil is currently the third largest beer producer in the world, behind China and the United States. According to the Atlasbig website, in 2023, 13.280 thousand tons of beer were produced in Brazil, an average of 63 liters for each inhabitant.

According to Conab, in 2024, Brazil registered an area of ​​125,8 thousand hectares (ha), with a total production of 442,4 thousand tons and an average productivity of 3.517 ka/ha. Barley cultivation in Brazil is concentrated in the South Region (PR, SC and RS), with cultivation also registered in São Paulo from 2022 (area increased from 5 thousand to 11 thousand ha).

In recent years, the cultivated area has increased in Paraná, but decreased in Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina. Rio Grande do Sul, which once cultivated more than 100 ha of barley in the late 1990s, cultivated only 2024 ha in 37. In Santa Catarina, Epagri registered only 310 ha of barley in this harvest, a drop of 79% compared to last year, even with a 60% higher productivity, reaching 4.200 kg/ha.

Even with 77 thousand ha in 2024, the gradual increase in area in Paraná has not been enough to meet the growing demand for barley grains with the installation of new malting industries and the expansion of breweries already operating in the state. In this harvest, Paraná's production was 284 thousand tons of barley, while demand in the state exceeds 600 thousand tons.

Barley cultivation began to expand in Brazil in the 1970s, largely due to initiatives by the beer industry, which encouraged domestic production to ensure supply. From 1976 to the present day, the cultivated area has fluctuated around 100 hectares, with an area of ​​over 150 hectares being cultivated in some years.

The crop yield, however, showed a constant increase throughout this period, going from 1.018 kg/ha in 1976 to 3.882 kg/ha in 2022 (a record year), which also ensured a constant increase in national production, which went from 95 thousand tons to 498 thousand tons in the same period. “To meet the need for barley grains by the malting plants installed in Brazil, approximately 1,1 million tons of grain are needed annually, that is, more than double the volume that has been produced in recent years”, explains Aloisio Vilarinho. To meet the malting industry alone, approximately 300 thousand hectares of barley cultivation would be needed in Brazil.

The beer industry needs barley grains with a minimum of 9,5% and a maximum of 12% crude protein content, in addition to a 95% germination rate, attributes that allow for the production of malt with a quality that meets the market. Larger grains (class 1) and free from mycotoxin contamination are also desirable. “In years with climate failures, such as drought during the planting of crops or excessive rain before harvest, the grains may not reach the quality required for malting and are destined for animal feed at a maximum of 50% of the value of barley with a beer standard,” explains the Embrapa researcher.

New markets in animal feed

Worldwide, 2/3 of the barley produced is used for animal feed. However, in Brazil there are cheaper options for feed, such as corn, which has a much higher yield potential and is widely adapted to the country. However, the gradual reduction in corn cultivation in the South Region opens up opportunities for the use of barley for animal production, especially for cattle, due to the high protein value of the grains, which can result in better milk yield and quality.

To serve this market, Embrapa Trigo has directed lines from the barley genetic improvement program to animal fodder production. Cultivars available to producers are BRS Korbel, recommended for fodder production (grains, pre-dried or whole plant silage), and BRS Entressafras (BRS CVA 118), developed with an ultra-early cycle for autumn cultivation, with a fit between soybeans and wheat, ready for silage in 75 days and grain harvest in 100 days.