Scottish barley growers are demonstrating key strengths in regenerative agriculture, according to early findings from a major supply chain project led by maltster Crisp Malt in partnership with Map of Ag.

The project comes as food and drink supply chains face growing pressure to demonstrate measurable environmental progress, particularly within the whisky sector, where long production timelines mean decisions made on-farm today could influence products reaching consumers years into the future.

Using the globally recognised SAI Regenerating Together Framework (RTF), the programme is assessing regenerative farming practices across barley-growing businesses to identify opportunities to improve resilience and long-term sustainability.

In the first phase, growers from the Aberlour Growers Group – a partnership between Chivas Brothers (the Pernod Ricard business dedicated to Scotch whisky and makers of Aberlour), Crisp Malt and associated merchants in Scotland - completed detailed surveys covering soil health, biodiversity, water management and climate resilience.

Ben Hunt, Client Technical Manager at Map of Ag, who is leading the data analysis, said one of the key findings was the widespread use of long-term grass leys in Scottish rotations, often followed by barley crops, reflecting a strong foundation for regenerative progress.

“A lot of Scottish farms still integrate livestock and arable production, with rotations that include several years of grass before returning to barley,” he said. “That delivers clear benefits for soil carbon, soil structure and long-term resilience compared with more intensive arable-only systems.”

The analysis also highlighted relatively strong uptake of Soil Mineral Nitrogen (SMN) testing, with 32% of growers already using the practice, which is higher than expected.

Mr Hunt said this demonstrated the value of targeted support. “The uptake of SMN testing in Scotland is encouraging and suggests government-backed funding and advisory support is helping drive adoption,” he said.

However, the survey also highlights opportunities to build on a strong foundation, particularly around increasing cover cropping and extending the time soils remain covered with living roots. The data showed living roots were present for 53% of the year, on average, identifying opportunities to improve soil biology via more root exudation, while 72% of ground remained bare over winter, highlighting potential to reduce nitrate leaching and improve protection against erosion. 

“There is still a significant opportunity to improve soil cover during parts of the rotation,” Mr Hunt added. “Keeping living roots in the soil for longer could bring benefits for soil health, water infiltration and overall resilience.”

The findings also reinforced the importance of a region-specific approach to regenerative agriculture. Some practices widely used in England, such as aphid forecasting tools and Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus management systems, were found to be less relevant in Scotland due to different climatic conditions and pest pressures.

At the same time, several growers reported adopting Controlled Traffic Farming to reduce soil compaction risks during wetter harvest conditions.

Ellie Wood, Sustainability Manager at Crisp Malt, said the project supports the company’s long-term sustainability ambitions - and that of the Aberlour Growers Group - to foster collaboration, alongside its partner Chivas Brothers, to help future-proof the livelihoods of farmers in regional Scottish communities.

“We recognise that future food and drink supply chains will increasingly need to demonstrate measurable environmental progress,” she said. “This work is helping us understand current farming practices, identify opportunities for improvement and through close collaboration with growers, deliver practical, achievable changes in support of our shared ambition to advance regenerative agriculture.”

The programme is now moving into its next phase, where priority outcomes will be selected for ongoing monitoring, improvement and benchmarking. These are expected to include measures such as soil cover, water infiltration and biodiversity indicators, tracked through repeat surveys and field assessments.

Mr Hunt added: “It’s important farmers can see the value of the information they’ve shared and how it will help shape practical improvements that work within Scottish farming systems. It is hoped these improvements will not only help environmental performance, but also support farmers in building more resilient farming systems and ensuring their long-term viability,” he said.

About Map of Ag

Map of Ag transforms agriculture through trusted data insights. Combining expertise with cutting-edge technology and AI-enabled solutions, to deliver trusted, actionable insights at scale. Keeping farm users in complete control of their data.

About the SAI Regenerating Together Framework (RTF)

The SAI Platform’s Regenerating Together Framework (RTF) is a global, outcome-based framework launched in 2023 to guide agriculture towards regenerative practices, focusing on soil health, biodiversity, water, climate, and farmer livelihoods. It acts as a flexible, actionable toolset for farms and supply chain partners to measure, verify, and scale environmental improvements.

About Chivas Brothers

Chivas Brothers is the Pernod Ricard business dedicated to Scotch whisky. Its award-winning portfolio features some of the world’s most revered single malt and blended Scotch whisky brands, including Chivas Regal, Ballantine’s, Royal Salute, The Glenlivet and Aberlour. As the world’s No.2 Scotch whisky producer which exports to 150 markets globally, Chivas Brothers and its 1,700-strong team are rooted in communities across Scotland and around the globe, sharing a proud history and the ambition to open up to shape the future of whisky. Chivas Brothers was awarded ‘Scotch Whisky Producer of the Year’ at the International Wine & Spirits Competition 2021 and for six years in a row from 2020-2025 at the International Spirits Challenge. For more information about Chivas Brothers, please visit www.chivasbrothers.com