By Clover Chang, U.S. Grains Council Director in Taiwan

Following the success of the Asian Food Barley Technical Short Course held in Taiwan last March, the U.S. Grains Council and Idaho Barley Commission (IBC) brought Tim Dillin, USGC delegate and commissioner at the IBC, and Sam White, chief operating officer of PNW Farmers Cooperative, to Taiwan earlier this month to continue advocating about the many uses of U.S. food barley.

Once in Taiwan, the Council arranged for the team to meet with leading barley companies, including Food Ent. Co. Ltd., Taiwan Barley Products Industry Association, China Grain Products Research and Development Institute, Fwu Sow Industry Co., Ltd., Si Sheng Foods Industry Co., Ltd., and Tai I Flour Plant Nam Chow Group.

The team introduced different varieties of Idaho food barley with high beta-glucan and discussed the advantages of using food barley. Some companies in Taiwan already incorporate food barley into their products, including one of the leading chain stores of healthy multi-grain bakery foods. Another company developed a ready-to-eat barley-rice, which contains 40 percent barley.

The local Taiwanese industry was able to gain more familiarity with the new varieties, which enhanced their confidence in importing and using barley sourced from the United States. The trip also fostered discussion on food barley needs in the future, with support from the Taiwanese companies to continue incorporating U.S. food barley into local products.