Limburgerhof, Germany; Athy, Ireland; Brussels, Belgium
November 18, 2020
- Malted barley supplier Boortmalt improves sustainability throughout their value chain with AgBalance® from BASF
- Independently benchmarked Farm Sustainability Assessment module from the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform now integrated in AgBalance
Modern food production is about reducing its impact on the environment while maintaining productivity. This holds true not only for farming but also for every player in the food value chain up to the retailer. That is why Boortmalt, the world’s leading barley malt provider for the brewing and distilling industries working with more than 800 barley growers in Ireland, is implementing BASF’s sustainability assessment tool AgBalance®. A new collaboration between BASF and the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform (SAI Platform) will also make it easier and faster for the farmers to achieve independent verification for the sustainability of their crop production.
“Our customers in the beverage value chain are demanding more proof that we supply malted barley that is produced sustainably,” said Max Potterton, barley agronomist at Boortmalt in Ireland. “That is why we want to measure and drive sustainability in crop production. One of our sustainability goals is to source 100% sustainable barley in Europe by 2030.”
“AgBalance is an easy-to-use digital tool that allows farmers to take a holistic view of their farm operations based on a broad set of sustainability criteria. Farmers can assess not just the carbon footprint or water usage, but also other important parameters, such as yield, soil health, biodiversity and social aspects,” said Julia Harnal, Head of Global Sustainability and Governmental Relations at BASF’s Agricultural Solutions division. “We are excited to be working with Boortmalt and SAI Platform. This partnership between food value chain and industry will help find the right balance between environmental protection, farm productivity and societal acceptance.”
AgBalance uses data from the farm’s current operation. It compares the data with a benchmark of other farms in the region and shows where farmers can improve their operations towards a reduced environmental footprint and at the same time increase the efficiency and productivity on the farm. With the integration of SAI Platform’s Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA) module into AgBalance, the tool will help Irish barley growers supplying Boortmalt to verify the sustainability contributions of their farm operations more quickly and easily.
“The Farm Sustainability Assessment module in AgBalance enables farmers to see instantly which level of FSA performance they are reaching. It will help them to achieve an even better understanding of how to manage sustainability on their farms,” said Joe Rushton, FSA Program Manager at SAI Platform.
To find out more about AgBalance developed by BASF, please visit our website.
About BASF’s Agricultural Solutions division
With a rapidly growing population, the world is increasingly dependent on our ability to develop and maintain sustainable agriculture and healthy environments. Working with farmers, agricultural professionals, pest management experts and others, it is our role to help make this possible. That’s why we invest in a strong R&D pipeline and broad portfolio, including seeds and traits, chemical and biological crop protection, soil management, plant health, pest control and digital farming. With expert teams in the lab, field, office and in production, we connect innovative thinking and down-to-earth action to create real world ideas that work – for farmers, society and the planet. In 2019, our division generated sales of €7.8 billion. For more information, please visit www.agriculture.basf.com or any of our social media channels.
About Boortmalt
BOORTMALT is the world leader malting company with 3 million tonnes production capacity. The group is present on 5 continents with 27 malting plants. Boortmalt’s expertise is widely acknowledged by brewers and distillers who rely on the supply of top-quality barley malt. Boortmalt local sourcing programs contain and promote continuous improvement of farming practices and methodologies which enhance financial profitability and are environmentally sound and beneficial to the local communities. For more information, please visit www.boortmalt.com
About SAI
Founded in 2002, the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform (SAI Platform) is a global not-for-profit organisation transforming the food and drink industry to source and produce more sustainably. With over 100 members, from companies and organisations in the food and drink industry, we are at the forefront in pioneering sustainable agriculture around the world. We enable our members to share expertise, create solutions to common challenges and promote sustainable agriculture in a pre-competitive environment. By developing tools and principles we are creating secure and resilient agricultural supply chains. Our current focus is on beef, dairy and crops. Our innovative and industry-focused tools, the Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA), Spotlight and the Sustainable Dairy Partnership (SDP), lead the way to effective sustainable practices while delivering value to our members, farmers, their communities and consumers. To find out more about SAI Platform, visit our website: www.saiplatform.org
Topics
Species
