The main raw material for malt production is barley, sourced primarily from farmers across the UK. Barley is grown in a way that produces the desired quality for malting and takes into account the final product market, either brewing or distilling.
Barley is where the majority of carbon is embedded and contributes up to 65% of carbon in the final malt, with nitrogen fertiliser applied accounting for up to 43% of that carbon. Much effort is being made to reduce this amount by sourcing ‘low carbon’ fertiliser, although other sources of nitrogen are also being trialled such as solids arising from anaerobic digestate processes. Some member companies have set ambitious targets for example, Muntons aim to reach net zero by 2030 and Simpsons Malt aim to reach carbon neutral by 2030.
For a good discussion on this topic read this article by Dr NigelDavies | SSA (scienceforsustainableagriculture.com).
Maltsters are also supporting moves towards ‘regenerative farming’ and many operate grower groups and have ambitious targets for their barley supply. Although regenerative farming is not yet fully defined, there are many examples of positive practices that contribute to improving soil health and biodiversity. Some examples of how the malting industry is working in this area can be found by exploring our members websites.