Scotch whisky producer Chivas Brothers is partnering up with Scottish barley growers on an agriculture programme to encourage sustainable farming practices.
The pilot programme is called the Dalmunach Growers Pilot Group and its focus is on Scottish barley growers represented by Bairds Malt, a malt producer for the UK brewing distilling industry from which Chivas Brothers sources the majority of its malted barley, and Scotgrain, an agricultural merchant which covers supply, procurement, and marketing for the industry.
It will run over a three to five-year period and has been set up to help “future-proof” the livelihoods of farmers in regional Scottish communities. It is also looking to help secure the supply of barley – a critical ingredient in the whisky-making process – and reduce Chivas Brothers’ indirect carbon footprint.
Subscribe to Sustainability Beat for free
Sign up here to get the latest sustainability news sent straight to your inbox everyday
In addition to carbon emissions reduction, trials will cover various approaches both to improvements in soil health – to create a more resilient growing process – and biodiversity, from fertiliser use and cover-cropping to wildflower strips.
Ronald Daalmans, environmental sustainability manager, Chivas Brothers said, “Establishing partnerships with our growers represents a critical moment in Chivas Brothers’ sustainability journey.
“The ongoing impact of climate change means our growers are having to adapt their practices – and many are faced with tough decisions regarding sustainable practices because it is cost prohibitive to implement new techniques without certainty of how they’ll affect crops through the growing cycle.
“Working together makes us stronger – not only to reduce carbon emissions at pace, but also to provide invaluable insights that can benefit the farming community at large.”
Earlier this year, Chivas Brothers teamed up with a number of eco charities in a bid to protect and restore Scotland’s waterways.
