Guinness launches agriculture programme to cut carbon footprint of pints

Involving 40 Irish barley farms in the first phase, the pilot programme will focus on regenerative agriculture practices

Guinness has launched a major agriculture initiative to cut the carbon footprint of its pints.

The Irish brewer described the three-year agriculture-based program as one of the most ambitious programs ever undertaken on the island of Ireland.

It is designed to reduce the amount of CO2 produced by the production of barley – one of the key ingredients in Guinness.

Covering 40 Irish barley farms in the first phase, the pilot program will focus on regenerative agriculture practices.

The initiative has been supported by the Irish government, with the country's agriculture minister hailing its potential.

As well as participating farmers, Guinness has assembled a network of partners to design and roll out the pilot.

These include soil management and crop production specialists and suppliers such as Bortmalt, Glenbia and Comex McKinnon.

The objective of the program would be to improve soil health and achieve the carbon sequestration capacity of the land; enhanced biodiversity; reduction in the use of artificial fertilizers; and better water quality.

Guinness said the pilot will also try to improve the livelihoods of the barley farmers involved.

As the pilot developed, the brewer grew more likely to include many more farms.

Walter Furlong Jr of Co Wexford is one of 40 farmers who participated in the first phase.

“We are delighted to partner with Guinness on this program,” he said.

"The great thing about regenerative agriculture is the simplicity of the approach.

“It is not a complicated process – it works in harmony with nature while providing commercial benefits for farmers.

“We already use regenerative farming practices and have seen a significant improvement in the soil quality of our farm. It is a highly effective approach that leads to much better results." Ireland's Agriculture, Food and Maritime Minister Charlie McConaughey said the pilot was welcome.

"This pilot shows the importance of sectors working together to reduce emissions," he said.

“It is welcome that one of Ireland's most iconic brands is taking a strong leadership position on farming and the environment, as we all work towards reducing carbon emissions and meeting our ambitious but necessary climate change goals. Huh.

“Delivering on the three pillars of sustainability – environmental, social and economic – is a key priority of mine and at the core of the Food Vision 2030 strategy I am implementing.

"I look forward to continuing engagement with Guinness on the program's roll-out and its progress." John Kennedy, president of Guinness' parent company Diageo Europe, said the lessons learned could influence its future production practices around the world.

"This pilot is the first such program being implemented by Diageo and the results will help inform other potential opportunities not only in Ireland, but in other countries where we source raw materials."

“We will openly share results from the pilot program so that other farms can learn and adopt practices that have demonstrated the highest potential impact from the perspective of environmental and agricultural profitability.

"Like the Irish farming community, we are 'all in' for the long haul for our people, products, partners and the planet." He highlighted that Guinness has a 9,000-year lease at the famous St. James Gate brewery in Dublin.

"We are only 263 years into our 9,000-year lease and we will never settle in the pursuit of a more sustainable future," he said.

The new program is part of Diageo's broader 10-year sustainability action plan called Society 2030: Spirit of Progress.

The blueprint commits the company to achieving net zero carbon emissions in its direct operations and a 50% reduction in Scope 3 emissions (emissions that comprise the supply chain) by the end of the decade.