An exclusive 1664 Responsible Barley supply chain

Malteries Soufflet, Soufflet Agriculture and Kronenbourg SAS are launching France’s first traceable responsible barley chain

To tackle the sustainable development issues we both face and to work towards the agro-ecological transition, Malteries Soufflet has joined forces with Soufflet Agriculture and Kronenbourg SAS (French subsidiary of the Carlsberg group). Together, we have created the first traceable responsible barley chain in France. This unique and pioneering approach has culminated in the set-up of an exclusive channel for their 1664 brand and meets a demanding set of specifications.

A unique and ambitious set of specifications

Malteries Soufflet, Soufflet Agriculture and Kronenbourg SAS have worked together to draw up a set of specifications guaranteeing a form of transitional agriculture with the farmers applying good agro-ecological practices. It ensures a high level of quality in the malts and helps to:

• Preserve the environment and biodiversity, through the good management of agro-ecological zones which helps maintain a rich and varied fauna and flora while encouraging diversified crop rotation and the respect for good practices of natural predation and wildlife-friendly harvesting.
• Encourage the reduction of the carbon footprint through rational fertilisation based on annual soil analyses, and by facilitating carbon capture and biomass production through multi-species plant cover sown between crops.
• Guarantee fair remuneration for the partner farmers and ensure opportunities to create value via a bonus that rewards fulfilment of the commitments involved in this sustainable agricultural sector.
• Ensure optimal quality by selecting the best barley varieties and following good practices during malting, to contribute to high brewing and aromatic quality.
• Guarantee transparency regarding the French origin, from the barley seed to the beer production, using blockchain technology.

“As a committed maltster, Malteries Soufflet has always ensured that the issues affecting all stakeholders, from the farmer to the consumer, remain the main concern in any action it takes. In this way, we enhance the value of farmers’ products while developing sustainable practices, in order to better meet our customers’ expectation,” Guillaume Couture, CEO of Malteries Soufflet.

Its application for 1664

Carefully selecting raw materials and favouring local supplies, the 1664 Master Brewers draw on their brewing know-how to constantly innovate and offer new beer-tasting experiences. Since its first year in 2022, the Responsible Barley chain has brought together 45 partner farmers, located in the Grand Est and Burgundy regions. As a result, from 2023 onwards, 1664 Blonde beer will be brewed with 20% of its barley sourced from responsible agro-ecological practices, to gradually reach 100% in 2026, based on the production of 5,000 hectares of barley, with 250 farmers involved in the long term.