Chivas Brothers and Simpsons Malt: low-carbon fertiliser for “greener” whisky

Whisky maker Chivas Brothers and wheat supplier Simpsons Malt Limited will take part in a new fertiliser pilot in Scotland. Using  OCI Global’s Nutramon^® Low Carbon (a low-carbon calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) fertiliser produced from biogas), wheat and malted barley will be grown, harvested and processed for whisky making in the Speyside region.

The fertiliser is certified by ISCC PLUS, and is estimated to have a 50% lower cradle-to-gate carbon footprint, and emits about 80-85% of GHG emissions, relative to conventional fertilisers.

The pilot crops, which will be used to produce Chivas’ Ballantine’s blended Scotch, will be harvested between August to October 2024. Following assessment, Chivas Brothers will consider a wider deployment of the low-carbon fertiliser. The growth and processing of raw materials such as barley and wheat is responsible for a third of Chivas’ carbon footprint. Using lower carbon fertiliser would therefore meaningfully impact the carbon intensity of whisky making.

We’re on a mission to reduce carbon emissions throughout our supply chain and that requires us to be at the forefront of new innovations that come to market. We cannot do this alone, which is why like minded partners such as Simpsons Malt Limited and OCI Global are so important to helping us realise this ambition. Together with our farming community, we’re limiting the environmental impact of cereal crops destined for our whiskies.

We look forward to continuing and expanding this initiative, as well as sharing our findings and experiences with the wider farming and whisky industries to help drive positive change across Scotland and beyond.

Ronald Daalmans, Sustainability Director at Chivas Brothers, in his organisation’s official press release, 7 August 2024

By working closely with our farmers to adopt innovative, low-carbon solutions, we are not only enhancing the sustainability of our supply chain but also contributing to a greener future for the whisky industry. We are excited about the potential of this initiative and look forward to its expansion and the positive impact it will have on our environmental footprint.

Andy Hindhaugh, Commercial Director at Simpsons Malt Limited, in Chivas Brothers’ official press release, 7 August 2024

Momentum for low carbon fertilisers is building. Already in 2024, we’ve seen announcements that:

• Yara will supply CCS-based and renewable ammonia-based fertiliser to PepsiCo Europe. The fertiliser will be used to produce potato crops initially, and eventually extended to oats and corn. PepsiCo also successfully trialled Fertiberia’s low carbon fertiliser for potato and barley crops last year.
• In Spain, Fertiberia is planning a 50 MW electrolysis plant for hydrogen and ammonia production, part of which will be used for fertiliser production in Puertollano (joining the existing 20 MW electrolysis plant). Also in Spain, Project Catalina, a 2 GW electrolysis project in the Aragon region, will produce hydrogen for fertiliser production.
• Tunisia, partnering with the German Agency for International Cooperation, announced plans for electrolytic hydrogen production of about 8.3 million tons per year by 2050, with over quarter of that used locally for fertiliser production.
• In Paraguay, ATOME will produce hydro-powered ammonia which will be used to produce about 246,000 tons per year of calcium ammonium nitrate by 2027. The fertiliser will be marketed by Yara as part of its “Yara Climate Choice” offering in South America.
• And in Angola, Minbos and Talus will collaborate in the deployment of modular renewable ammonia production technology. The ammonia produced from this project will be used for fertiliser production for the growing agricultural market in the Southern African country. Talus has already deployed the technology in Kenya, and has plans for similar deployments in Iowa, USA.