Malting Barley Emissions Reductions

SAOS played a key role in the ‘Going with the Grain’ project, examining the risks and opportunities associated with using organic fertilisers to reduce emissions in the growing of malting barley for Scotch whisky.

Who did we work with?

We partnered with the Scotch Whisky Association, Scottish Quality Crops (the Scottish farm assurance scheme for crops), SRUC and NFU Scotland.

What did we do?

In partnership with experts and industry bodies, we looked at how a circular economy approach could reduce emissions within the supply chain. We strengthened relationships, communication and understanding between supply chain actors, paving the way for work on new decarbonising initiatives that will inevitably involve trade-offs.

Why?

Grown to produce Scotch whisky, malting barley is an iconic and economically important product in Scotland. The greatest source of emissions in the growing process comes from chemical fertiliser use. To reduce emissions, alternative ways of growing malting barley must be explored. Unfortunately, there is no ‘silver bullet’. Most positive steps to reduce emissions result in only marginal reductions, so multiple changes are needed.

Following significant volatility in energy costs, and a commitment to reduce emissions, more distilleries are using co-products in anaerobic digesters. There is an opportunity to use digestate as a fertiliser to grow malting barley taking a circular economy approach to production. We wanted to address any concerns as well as the potential to tackle climate change.

How did SAOS help?

Working with our partners:

• We held focus groups to identify perceptions and challenges associated with using bulky organic manures as alternative organic fertilisers, and which to focus on.
• We quantified the possible emission reductions through using anaerobic digestate rather than chemical nitrogen fertiliser, and the potential cost savings for farmers.
• We investigated the environmental risks of using digestate and made recommendations to mitigate these.
• We looked at the policy and market context to identify drivers of digestate production.
• Regulatory requirements for using digestate and other similar manures were examined to identify how well possible risks were mitigated.
• Recommendations on how to affect change through identified mechanisms that can reduce emissions through controlled bulky organic manure use.

What now?

We are now working with others in our network to implement the changes needed and also exploring different possibilities to reduce emissions.