Barley is an excellent food grain, being rich in beta-glucan that can lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of type-2 diabetes.

Unfortunately all barley currently grown in the UK has grain covered by an inedible hull or husk.

Naked barley grain threshes free from the hull so is perfect for food uses.

Again, unfortunately there are no naked barley varieties bred for UK conditions - that's where my efforts in plant breeding come in.

Naked barley grains bred at Harper Adams from a cross between Lawina (a low yielding, disease-susceptible naked barley, but with excellent grain quality) and Westminster (a high yielding, disease-resistant UK covered barley).