Chivas Brothers, part of Pernod Ricard and makers of Chivas Regal and Ballantine’s, along with their wheat supplier, Simpsons Malt Limited, have announced an investment in low-carbon fertiliser developed by OCI Global.
Farmers in the Chivas Brothers Wheat Growers Group are trialling Nutramon® Low Carbon, a calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) fertiliser made using certified biogas.
This fertiliser has up to 50% lower carbon emissions than conventional fertilisers and is ISCC PLUS certified.
The use of Nutramon® Low Carbon can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from barley and wheat by 15-20%.
This trial is part of Chivas Brothers’ efforts to create a sustainable future for whisky and reduce its carbon footprint.
Approximately a third of their carbon emissions come from growing and processing raw materials like barley and wheat.
The trial crops will be harvested from August to October 2024 and used in Ballantine’s blended Scotch.
Chivas Brothers aims to assess the trial’s impact and potentially expand its use of biobased fertilisers to further reduce emissions in its supply chain.
In the future, Chivas Brothers and Simpsons Malt Limited plans to use green fertilisers, including those made with green ammonia produced by renewable electricity, which can reduce carbon emissions by up to 90%.
Ronald Daalmans, Sustainability Director at Chivas Brothers, commented: “We’re on a mission to reduce carbon emissions throughout our supply chain, and that requires us to be at the forefront of new innovations that come to market.
“We cannot do this alone, which is why like minded partners such as Simpsons Malt Limited and OCI Global are so important to helping us realise this ambition.
“Together with our farming community, we’re limiting the environmental impact of cereal crops destined for our whiskies.”
“We look forward to continuing and expanding this initiative and sharing our findings and experiences with the wider farming and whisky industries to help drive positive change across Scotland and beyond.”
Andy Hindhaugh, Commercial Director at Simpsons Malt Limited, added, “This collaboration with Chivas Brothers and OCI Global on the trial of low carbon Nutramon fertiliser represents a significant step towards achieving these goals.
“By working closely with our farmers to adopt innovative, low-carbon solutions, we are not only enhancing the sustainability of our supply chain but also contributing to a greener future for the whisky industry.
“We are excited about the potential of this initiative and look forward to its expansion and the positive impact it will have on our environmental footprint.”
Aviv Bar Tal, Vice President of Commercial Nitrogen at OCI Global, commented: “Through its low-carbon portfolio, OCI Global aims to reduce the carbon footprint of the global food production chain.
“We are proud to collaborate with two leading companies, Simpsons and Chivas, to create a food and drink supply chain partnership to deliver affordable but sustainable products.”
The next Chivas Brothers Wheat Growers Group meeting will take place in the Autumn, where farmers will share the results of these trials with the broader group, encouraging wider roll-out and more volunteers to use the low carbon or green fertilisers.
