Irish Distillers partnership set to scale up regenerative farming
Irish Distillers has today (May 26) announced a three-year partnership with Ballymaloe Farm, and Earthworm Foundation.
The partnership is set to support the implementation and scale-up of regenerative farming practices for barley, led by the owner of Ballymaloe Farm, Darren Allen.
Barley cultivated on Ballymaloe Farm will now be grown using regenerative agricultural practices which include minimising soil disturbance, increasing crop diversity and reducing chemical inputs.
When implemented effectively, these measures have the potential to reduce the carbon footprint associated with barley growing and enhance biodiversity on the farm.
As part of the partnership, Ballymaloe Farm will be supported by Earthworm Foundation and Pádraig Shevlin, a leading agronomist in the field of regenerative agriculture.
Together they will monitor and assess the impact of the measures adopted and will provide ongoing expert guidance and advice with a tailored action plan for Ballymaloe Farm.
A recent report carried out by Earthworm Foundation looked at the impact of regenerative agriculture practices implemented at Ballymaloe Farm for the 2024 harvest, establishing a baseline which will be used to measure future progress.
The head of sustainability for Irish Distillers, Graham Caulwell said: "This marks a proud day for us at Irish Distillers as we announce our regenerative agriculture partnership with Ballymaloe Farm and Earthworm Foundation.
"Through this three-year partnership, we will work with Darren Allen, who is a true advocate of regenerative agriculture and its potential to contribute positively to soil health and biodiversity."
"A shared objective of this project is to reach a better understanding of the benefits of regenerative farming, underpinned by regular data collection and analysis," Caulwell added.
Darren Allen, the owner of Ballymaloe Farm, said that many of the regenerative practices implemented as part of the project are not only beneficial foe the health of the soil, but are also economically advantageous.
He said: "On my farm, I have witnessed first-hand the positive impact these practices are having on biodiversity, both below and above the ground.
"I take much enjoyment from seeing birdlife thrive on the regeneratively farmed area and witnessing the explosion in wormlife under the ground," Allen added.
