Chivas Brothers farmers earn top sustainability honour
Farmers supplying and distilling wheat for Scotch producer Chivas Brothers have been verified gold in a Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA), the first in the UK to do so.
The Scotch arm of Pernod Ricard partners with Simpsons Malt to source and distil wheat for its whisky. More than 120 contracted Simpsons Malt farmers have been awarded with the honour, which acknowledges that the wheat provided is up to a globally recognised standard.
With a FSA Gold verification, wheat used in the production is said to have undergone a range of ‘first-class sustainable farming practices’, from soil and nutrient management to crop protection, biodiversity, community impact and employee welfare.
Chivas Brothers processes wheat for its whisky at Glasgow-based Strathclyde Distillery. The producer’s whisky portfolio includes Chivas Regal, Royal Salute and Ballantine’s, the latter being the second biggest-selling Scotch brand in the world.
Ronald Daalmans, sustainability director at Chivas Brothers, said: “Wheat is a critical ingredient in the creation of blended whisky and Chivas Brothers Strathclyde Growers Group supplies us with approximately 80,000 tonnes annually, so to know the farmers are meeting the highest standards of environmental and social sustainability is incredibly important to us realising our vision.”
Chivas Brothers has pledged to reach net zero by the end of 2026 and has developed a number of initiatives to safeguard the natural habitats around Scotland, which are also crucial to its whisky making.
Together with Simpsons Malt, the company created a committee called the Miltonduff Growers Group, which monitors the malting barley activity across more than 180 Scottish farms. The committee connects farmers from across the network and supply chain – growers, maltsters and distillers – for discussions on how to maintain and enhance sustainability efforts.
Ben Gothorp, sustainability manager at Simpsons Malt, said the Growers Group was “absolutely delighted” at attaining FSA Gold verification and being the first in the UK for distilling wheat to do so, but highlighted the need for continual sustainable processes.
“In recent years, our contracted growers have become increasingly aware of the need to operate more sustainably – from reducing in-field emissions and improving biodiversity, to ensuring proper business management.
“With FSA examining the entire farming operation and 100% Gold performance level being achieved across the Growers Group, it is testament to these growers and highlights the progress being made with sustainability on-farm.”
Carina Calder of A M & A Calder (Lintlaw Farm) in the Scottish borders, one of the farms selected for the in-person audit, added: “As farmers, we know that consumers are becoming more aware of the provenance and quality of what they buy, so it is understandable that globally recognised schemes like the FSA are becoming increasingly important.
“It gives me a great sense of pride to know that I’m a part of a collective that has achieved a UK-first and I’m thankful for having access to the knowledge and expertise of the group throughout the process.”
Chivas Brothers’ work to protect and support the terroir in Scotland saw it also trial a low-carbon fertiliser last year, as well as team up with local environmental charities to restore the region’s waterways.
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