Heineken UK has announced the launch of a major regenerative malting barley programme that will see almost half of its malted barley sourced from regenerative agriculture practices by 2027.
The brewer is partnering with maltsters Muntons and Boortmalt, barley merchant Cefetra and independent agronomists Soil Capital to support UK farmers in adopting regenerative farming methods at scale.
Farmers taking part will receive a premium directly on their regenerative barley yields, alongside agronomic support and multi-year commitments. Heineken UK said the approach is designed to reduce the financial risk of changing farming practices and make the transition commercially viable for growers.
The first regenerative barley crop is due to be harvested in 2026 and brewed into beer for consumers in 2027.
The programme will support practices including reduced soil disturbance, cover crops and diverse crop rotations, with methods tailored to individual farms and their existing practices.
It will cover key barley-growing regions across England and Scotland, including East Anglia, the East Midlands, the South East and South West, Fife and the Scottish Borders.
The shift to regenerative malting barley will extend across Heineken UK’s portfolio, including Heineken, Cruzcampo, Birra Moretti, John Smith’s, Foster’s and Amstel.
Heineken UK, which brews more than 1.3 billion pints of beer annually, said more than 95 per cent of the beer it sells is brewed in the UK, highlighting the importance of developing sustainable sources of home-grown ingredients.
Regenerative agriculture aims to improve soil health, retain carbon in soil, support biodiversity, improve water management and increase resilience to climate change.
Soil Capital will independently measure and verify the programme’s progress across more than 30 indicators, including soil health, biodiversity and water management. It will also provide farmers with agronomic advice during the transition.
Sonia Thimmiah, corporate affairs director at Heineken UK, said British malting barley was “at the heart of some of the UK’s best-loved beers” and that making it more resilient for the future was important.
“This programme is about working with partners to make regenerative agriculture practical, scalable and commercially viable by strengthening soils and helping farms stay fit for the future,” she said.