Spring malting barley variety, Arrow, from breeder RAGT, has received full approval for malt distilling following the latest Malting Barley Committee meeting this spring. The variety also progresses to Provisional Approval 2 for brewing use, paving the way for an eventual dual-use approval if further testing is successful.

Arrow comes from the UK’s most successful malting barley breeding programme, which was acquired by RAGT from Syngenta last winter. Also from this stable is Laureate. 10 years after its first appearance on the Recommended List, it is still one of the highest yielding approved varieties on the list and represented almost three quarters of malting barley purchases by the brewing and distilling trade last year.

It is this market acceptance that has underpinned Laureate’s success as a farmer favourite. Tracy Creasy, malting barley portfolio manager for RAGT, believes Arrow is set to follow in its footsteps by offering maltsters and distillers with another consistent product from UK farms.

“We’re delighted that Arrow has secured full approval for malt distilling,” says Tracy. “It takes a lot of work to reach this stage, and we are thankful for the support of partners in the trade to reach this goal.

“Going forward, we are hopeful that Arrow will become a dual-purpose brewing and distilling malting barley that sits alongside Laureate on farm. In the meantime, farmers growing for the distilling market will be able to purchase Arrow for sowing next spring with a confirmed end market.”

RAGT managing director Helen Wilson says the acquisition of the mating barley programme from Syngenta is already beginning to bear fruit for RAGT. “It’s significantly added to what was already a strong programme, which produced varieties like RGT Planet,” she adds.

“We have every confidence that Arrow will allow us to maintain our market leading position into the future.”