Beer production 'could be hit by climate change'

Climate change in coming decades will put the squeeze on beer supplies by impeding the production of a key grain needed for the brew – especially in Australia, a climate scientist warned today.

Jim Salinger, a climate scientist at New Zealand’s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, said climate change likely will cause a decline in the production of malting barley in parts of New Zealand and Australia. Malting barley is a key ingredient of beer.