Euro GM reluctance could hit beer innovation
Beverage Daily published this article on the use of genetically modified products in beer. The article quotes fellow biotech supporter Dr. Val Giddings throughout the article on his views on the subject. He believes that it will become a much more common practice in the near future. Read more below.
C.S. Prakash
Euro GM reluctance could hit beer innovation
Beverage Daily
January 22, 2008
As the EU debates retaining national bans on genetically modified (GM) crops, one industry expert believes that failure to adapt could grant foreign rivals using the technology an upper hand, not least in terms of brewing a good beer.
Dr Val Giddings, a leading independent US GM consultant, told BeverageDaily.com that the current use of biotech crops in global beer making was miniscule, mainly in the addition of rice.
He was keen to add though, that in his opinion, there could be no doubt that GM crop use in beer - even if still some way from practical application - is set to increase in the coming years.
One key issue expected to affect brewers in the coming year is the increasing costs of raw materials needed in making a variety of ales and lagers.
According to figures supplied by the UK-based cereal board HGCA, in England alone, the average price for brewers grain was up to £31 per tonne this month from £28 per tonne in January 2007.
Many experts say that this trend is likely to continue over the coming year.
While potentially helping to offset these cost, Giddings says that there could be numerous ways that GM crops could improve brewing, regardless of the current commodity price spikes.
