{"id":25217,"date":"2022-02-23T10:11:12","date_gmt":"2022-02-23T15:11:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25217"},"modified":"2022-02-23T10:11:15","modified_gmt":"2022-02-23T15:11:15","slug":"guinness-launches-pilot-farming-program-to-reduce-carbon-impact","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25217","title":{"rendered":"Guinness Launches Pilot Farming Program To Reduce Carbon Impact"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The three-year pilot will use regenerative farming practices to reduce the emissions generated by producing barley (PA Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Guinness has launched a major agricultural initiative to cut the carbon footprint of its pints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The brewer described the three-year farm-based program as one of the most ambitious ever undertaken in Ireland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is designed to drive down the volume of CO2 generated by the production of barley \u2013 one of the key ingredients of Guinness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Involving 40 barley farms in the first phase, the pilot program will focus on regenerative agriculture practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The initiative has been endorsed by the Government, with Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue hailing its potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As well as the participating farmers, Guinness has assembled a network of partners to design and roll out the pilot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These include soil management and crop production experts and suppliers such as Boortmalt, Glanbia and Comex McKinnon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The program will aim to achieve improvements in soil health and the carbon sequestration potential of the land; enhanced biodiversity; reduction in the use of synthetic fertilizer; and better water quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guinness said the pilot would also strive to improve the livelihoods of the barley farmers involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The brewer raised the potential for many more farms to become involved as the pilot develops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the 40 farmers participating in the first phase is Walter Furlong Junior from Co Wexford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re delighted to be partnering with Guinness on this program,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe great thing about regenerative agriculture is the simplicity of the approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not a complicated process \u2013 it works in harmony with nature whilst providing a commercial benefit for farmers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe already use regenerative agricultural practices and have seen a marked improvement in the quality of the soil on our farm. It is a highly effective approach that leads to much better outcomes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr McConalogue welcomed the pilot, stating: \u201cRegenerative agriculture is an exciting area and this pilot shows the importance of sectors working together to reduce emissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is welcome that one of Ireland\u2019s 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 targets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDelivering on the three pillars of sustainability \u2013 environmental, social and economic \u2013 is a key priority of mine and is core to the Food Vision 2030 strategy I am implementing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI look forward to the roll-out of the program and continued engagement with Guinness on its progress.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John Kennedy, president of Guinness\u2019s parent company Diageo Europe, said lessons learned could influence its future production practices across the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis pilot is the first such program being implemented by Diageo and the outcomes will help inform other potential opportunities, not just in Ireland, but in other countries where we source raw materials,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe will openly share the results from the pilot program so that other farms can learn and adopt practices that have demonstrated the highest potential impact from an environmental and farm profitability standpoint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLike the Irish farming community, we are \u2018all in\u2019 for the long haul \u2013 for our people, products, partners and planet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He highlighted that Guinness has a 9,000-year lease at its famous St James\u2019s Gate brewery in Dublin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are only 263 years into our 9,000-year lease and we will never settle in pursuit of a more sustainable future,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new program is part of Diageo\u2019s wider 10-year sustainability action plan called Society 2030: Spirit of Progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That blueprint commits the company to achieving net-zero carbon emissions across its direct operations and a 50 per cent reduction in scope 3 emissions (emissions that include supply chains) by the end of the decade.<\/p>\n

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