Key Takeaways
- Carlsberg Denmark is increasing its regenerative grain procurement from 15,000 tonnes in 2025 to 18,400 tonnes from the 2026 harvest, to be used in beer brewed in Fredericia in 2027.
- For the first time, the company is purchasing regeneratively grown wheat — 1,000 tonnes covering its entire wheat consumption — for beers including 1664 Blanc, Jacobsen Barbara's Easy IPA, and Brooklyn Pulp Art IPA.
- Raw materials account for approximately 25% of Carlsberg Denmark's total CO₂ emissions; regenerative farming methods are expected to reduce that footprint by cutting tractor use and improving soil health.
- Carlsberg's global sustainability strategy, Brewing Tomorrow, targets 50% of all raw materials grown regeneratively by 2032.
- The procurement is aligned with the Regenerating Together Programme (RTP) under the SAI Platform, which has drawn commitments from more than 40 food and beverage companies globally.
Carlsberg Denmark Raises Regenerative Grain Orders Ahead of 2026 Harvest
Carlsberg Denmark has announced it will purchase 18,400 tonnes of regeneratively grown grain from Danish farmers' autumn 2026 harvest, up from 15,000 tonnes contracted in 2025. The raw materials will supply the Fredericia brewery for beer production in 2027, representing a further step toward the Carlsberg Group's global target of sourcing 50% of all raw materials from regenerative farms by 2032.
Of the total volume, 17,400 tonnes will be regeneratively grown malting barley — enough to brew approximately 118 million liters of beer. The remaining 1,000 tonnes marks Carlsberg Denmark's first-ever procurement of regeneratively grown wheat, covering the full wheat requirement for the brewery's wheat-containing beers in 2027, including 1664 Blanc, Biére, Jacobsen Barbara's Easy IPA, Mikkeller Burst IPA, and Brooklyn Pulp Art IPA.
From 3 Million to 100 Million Liters in a Single Year
The scale of the ramp-up is significant. In 2025, Carlsberg Denmark's first year using regenerative raw materials, around 3 million liters of beer were brewed with regenerative malting barley. By 2026, that figure reached approximately 100 million liters — a roughly 33-fold increase in a single production cycle.
“Our investment in regeneratively grown grain in Denmark has got off to a very good start. 2025 was our first year using regenerative raw materials, and we brewed around 3 million liters of beer using regenerative malting barley. This year, we are already at approximately 100 million liters. Now we are increasing procurement from 15,000 to 17,400 tonnes of regeneratively grown malting barley, which will be harvested this autumn and result in around 118 million liters of beer next year. On top of that, for the first time, we have also ordered 1,000 tonnes of regeneratively grown wheat, which will cover our entire wheat consumption in 2027,” said Stig Schneider, Senior Sustainability Manager at Carlsberg Denmark.
Schneider noted that raw materials represent around a quarter of the company's total CO₂ emissions, and cited reduced tractor use, improved soil health, and greater biodiversity as key expected benefits of shifting to regenerative farming practices. He also pointed to the collaborative structure underpinning the effort, involving maltsters and agricultural cooperative DLG.
DLG Calls for Broader Industry Participation
DLG's EVP for Sustainability & Communication, Claus Stig Pedersen, welcomed the expanded commitment and used the announcement to call on other food and beverage companies to follow.
“Carlsberg is a frontrunner when it comes to making a significant and committed shift to regenerative crops. It is very positive news that Carlsberg is now also purchasing regeneratively grown wheat. This is important because broader demand makes it more attractive for more farmers to work with new cultivation methods and stronger crop rotation. We hope that more companies will follow suit, so that we also see regenerative oats, rye, and rapeseed,” said Claus Stig Pedersen, EVP for Sustainability & Communication at DLG.
Carlsberg Denmark's Approach Anchored in the RTP Framework
Carlsberg Denmark's regenerative sourcing program is aligned with the Regenerating Together Programme (RTP), an initiative under the SAI Platform that formally launched alongside the company's latest procurement announcement. The RTP brings together more than 40 food and beverage companies, farmers, NGOs, and research institutions around a shared, outcomes-based definition of regenerative agriculture — one focused on measurable improvements to soil health, biodiversity, water, and climate outcomes, while maintaining or improving farmer livelihoods.
The programme addresses a long-standing challenge in the sector: the absence of a common framework for measuring and verifying regenerative outcomes across different geographies and supply chains. By providing shared metrics, tools, and guidance, the RTP aims to reduce fragmentation and enable companies to scale pilots into mainstream sourcing strategies. Carlsberg Denmark has recommended that Denmark develop a national framework for regenerative agriculture inspired by the SAI Platform model to strengthen documentation, transparency, and farmer participation across the value chain.
For Carlsberg Denmark, the alignment with RTP reflects a progression from early pilots across the Nordics, France, and the UK into scaled, standardized procurement — demonstrating that a common framework can support local adaptation without imposing a uniform model on farmers operating in different conditions.
