Asahi Beverages is the latest company to partner with Charles Sturt University (CSU) to support Australian farmers recognise and implement climate smart practices, with scientists from the Cool Soil Initiative tracking carbon emissions from the barley used in beer.
The Cool Soil Initiative is a not-for-profit organisation started in 2018 and based at CSU’s Wagga Wagga campus, that recognises climate smart practices, identifies opportunities to lift yield and soil health, and provides trusted emissions intensity reporting. Member corporations include Allied Pinnacle, Kellanova, Corson, Mars, Manildra, and PepsiCo, with the program helping to meet sustainability goals, delivering credible Scope 3 reporting and real on-farm change.
Under the partnership with Asahi, climate scientists from the Initiative are working with nine farmers from the Wimmera region, whose barley is used to brew Asahi beers including Carlton Draught and Victoria Bitter.
To analyse carbon output, scientists collect the soil and growing data from each farm – including fertiliser use and field operations. The scientists then conduct a thorough analysis before providing participating farmers with a unique report that breaks down their emissions across a range of farm activities.
The company stated the first year of the partnership has yielded significant data on the use of fertilisers and herbicides, advanced technology that minimises soil compaction, as well as growing practices that help to protect the health of soils that will ultimately reduce the amount of carbon-intensive interventions.
Asahi Beverages regional category head, Dave Engel, said the results have been extremely encouraging for all parties and highlights that Australia grain growers are already operating at the leading edge of sustainable growing practices.
“All of these factors result in better commercial outcomes for the grower as well as reduced emissions,” said Engle.
“Barley is the heart and soul of beer because it defines its taste and colour and we buy around 75,000 tonnes of it nationally. We’ve got dozens of terrific barley farmers around Australia supplying Asahi but until now the support and know-how were not in place for them to understand and report on their emissions from growing barley.
“The Cool Soil Initiative helps farmers understand the emissions of individual farm activities and processes, compare them to others within their growing region and enables them to take focused action to reduce their emissions footprint. Farmers’ critical role in the supply chain means they are uniquely placed to help Asahi track barley emissions as we work towards a lower emissions future,” he said.
In 2020, Asahi launched the Victoria Barley Program to partner with dozens of Victorian farmers, whose barley is now used to brew around 300 million litres of beer annually at the company’s Abbotsford Brewery.
Under the old model, farmers sold barley grain to bulk handlers who stored it all together, meaning grains from potentially hundreds of different farmers were mixed before they reached Abbotsford. But the partnership has created a direct relationship between brewers and farmers – providing clear oversight of the growing process to ensure only the best and most consistent barley is used in Asahi’s beers.
CSU Cool Soil Initiative and sustainability director, Matthew Muller, said farmers are already doing the hard work of producing high-quality barley.
“Our role at Cool Soil Initiative is to provide scientific measurement and benchmarking that makes emissions reporting insightful, not burdensome,” said Muller.
“A certified and tailored report for each paddock will provide growers genuine evidence to access markets, evaluate productivity and identify opportunities that optimise soil health, yield and support climate-smart agriculture.”
