Carlsberg CEO Jacob-Aarup Andersen emphasized that an increasing number of suppliers of agricultural raw materials such as barley and hops are transitioning to sustainable and regenerative farming methods. “If Danish farmers do not follow this trend, we will be forced to purchase our raw materials elsewhere, which could have negative consequences for the local agricultural sector.”
Specifically, Carlsberg has already decided that 30 percent of their raw materials will come from regenerative agriculture by 2030. By 2040, this must be 100 percent. The CEO suggested that Danish farmers contribute insufficiently to green initiatives. These statements caused outrage among agricultural organizations. They accuse the brewery of prioritizing its own profits and shifting responsibility onto farmers.
This debate arises at a time when steps are being taken within the agricultural sector to promote sustainability. An example is the DLG Group, which actively pursues regenerative farming practices.
DLG Group recently announced that they have signed the first contracts with farmers for such regenerative farming projects. Initially, these involve agreements for 100 hectares of brewing barley, cultivated according to regenerative principles such as minimal soil tillage, no use of insecticides, and reduced use of commercial fertilizers.
According to DLG, these developments sharply contrast with the criticism from Carlsberg's CEO, who according to many farmers paints an overly one-sided picture. The concerns of the Carlsberg CEO also come at a time when the Danish agricultural sector is under financial pressure. Last year, the sector generated significantly less revenue. According to the latest figures, the turnover of Danish agriculture fell by 8 percent.