Journey towards net-zero barley production: BASF and Boortmalt produce first Verified Impact Units in Europe

“The journey we began in 2022 has now reached a pivotal milestone with the generation of the VIUs,” said Marko Grozdanovic, Senior Vice President Global Marketing at BASF Agricultural Solutions. “This achievement showcases the potential of climate-smart agriculture and our Global Carbon Farming Program, emphasizing also the importance of connecting farmers with stakeholders across the value chain to develop scalable solutions.”

As part of BASF’s Global Carbon Farming Program, barley farmers in Ireland have implemented sustainable farming practices such as cover crops. These efforts have resulted in average savings of 2.3 tons CO₂e per hectare, reducing GHG emissions by nearly 90 percent and bringing barley production closer to net-zero. This creates a significant milestone for companies seeking a mechanism to certify the impact of on-farm interventions that help reduce scope 3 emissions and meet Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) commitments.

“We are incredibly proud alongside our project partners to be Europe’s first to have achieved Verra’s standard of verification from carbon insetting,” said Gustavo Palerosi Carneiro, Senior Vice President BASF Agricultural Solutions for EMEA & CIS. “Through reliable verification and certification, farmers are rewarded for implementing sustainable practices that benefit the environment without compromising productivity. We are excited to continue to work with food value chain and farmers on our Carbon Farming Program and to provide them with innovative solutions for sustainable agriculture.”

About Boortmalt

Boortmalt is the world’s leading malting company with a production capacity of three million tons. The group is present on five continents with 27 malting plants. Boortmalt’s expertise is widely acknowledged by brewers, distillers, and food industries who rely on the supply of top-quality malted barley. Boortmalt has a strong vision on sustainability and in line with this they promote the continuous improvement of farming methodologies through local sourcing programs that are environmentally sound and beneficial to local communities. Boortmalt has committed to the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Furthermore, the company has partnered with Waterford Distillery using a unique ‘single farm origin’ sourcing model. With all parties aiming to deliver increases in soil health, grain quality and climate resilience across the supply chain, from grain to glass. For more information, please visit

www.boortmalt.com