Question

Discuss the history and modern use of one domesticated crop not commonly used in Western agricultural tradition! Do not include an achene, a nut, Caryopsis, Samara, Schizocarp, celery, carrots, corn, or onion.

Answer 1

History and modern use of one domesticated crop not commonly used in western agriculture tradition
Barley
Barley grains are somewhat similar to wheat in appearance. It grows well at high altitude in the northern hemisphere in the artic and Himalayan range. Russia is the leader in the production of barley producing around 42 million tons a year.
If we trace back at the cultivation of barley, it was first cultivated in the Jordan Valley 10, 000 years ago. Earliest excavation at Jerico revealed that people collected seed from rocky flags and planted them in the alluvial soil. By 6000 BC barley was introduced in present-day Greece and Italy and spread almost to the entire continent of southern Europe. Barley cultivation reached Southern Britain and Scandinavia around 3800 BC and finally in the central Scandinavia and north Britain around 2500 BC.
Modern use of Barley
Barley has a good amount of soluble fiber making it a healthy choice on your plate. It slows down digestion and also helps lower cholesterol level in blood. In western culture, it is rarely eaten due to its coarse texture and mostly regarded as a peasant food. Barley is widely used for the production of beer and whiskey throughout the world and is one of the basic ingredients that provides the substrate for fermentation. It is used in the form of Malt, malting is a process which the barley is subjected to heat and moist environment to germinate. Diastase os one of the various enzymes produced during fermentation which converts the starch into sugar mainly maltose is produced. Now this malt is ready to be used as sugar (carbohydrate source) for the fermentation medium for the production of alcoholic beverages. It is also used in making malted milk and baby food products.