Global Warming To Affect Beer Production

Scientists in New Zealand are worried about global warming's effects on barley production.

Better barley breeds could be the salvation for the beer brewing industry as global warming threatens crop production, an industry conference has heard.

Industry scientists and brewers from more than 24 countries in Auckland for the Institute of Brewing and Distilling's convention heard yesterday that climate modelling pointed to an increased drying in barley growing areas in New Zealand and Australia.

Jim Salinger, principal scientist with the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, told the conference that Canterbury, the main barley growing area in New Zealand, would likely be adversely affected as it gets hotter and drier.

We need to start working on solutions to the looming water crisis.

Water is going to be such an issue of global concern that any water wastage is going to be seen as unacceptable," he told the conference.