Oregon State University Leading Project to Create Hulless Barley

Oregon State University is leveraging $3.5 million in grant funding to lead a multi-state project including partners in California, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and New York to develop new varieties of naked, or hulless barley suitable for growing in those locations. 

Most traditional barley varieties have a tough outer hull around the kernel that must be removed during processing in order to be suitable for consumption. However, this process also strips away the majority of the grain’s micronutrients, meaning it cannot be categorized as a whole grain. 

Naked barley has a hull that is loose enough that it usually falls off during the harvesting process, much like wheat, meaning it retains its nutritional profile and status as a whole grain. However, unlike wheat or rice, naked barley has so far been understudied.

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