Diageo India launches regenerative agriculture initiative to cut carbon emissions and water use | Food Business Africa
INDIA – United Spirits, a subsidiary of global beverage leader Diageo in India, has unveiled a new regenerative agriculture program focused on rice farming in Telangana.
Launched in collaboration with the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, this initiative aims to reduce carbon emissions and water use within United Spirits’ supply chain, reflecting a significant step towards Diageo’s broader environmental goals.
The program’s first phase will engage over 220 rice farmers from 15 villages across Telangana, covering an area of 500 hectares. By supporting small-holder farmers with sustainable farming techniques, United Spirits aims to build resilience in both local communities and its own supply chain.
The company also plans to scale this program further in the coming years, with an emphasis on rice farming due to the crop’s high greenhouse gas emissions. Reports show that 17 percent of India’s agricultural emissions come from rice production alone.
The regenerative farming practices introduced under the program include alternative wetting and drying (AWD) techniques, direct rice seeding, and the system of rice intensification. These methods help reduce water consumption, lower methane emissions, and improve soil health.
United Spirits has mapped out key areas where it sources broken rice—a vital raw material for its products—and conducted lifecycle assessments to calculate emissions and identify areas for improvement.
Jitendra Mahajan, Chief Supply and Sustainability Officer at Diageo India, emphasized the dual focus on supporting small farmers and building supply chain resilience.
He explained that the rice farming initiative aligns with Diageo’s ‘Spirit of Progress’ Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) action plan, which aims to reduce scope 3 value chain emissions by 50% and water usage by 30%.
Mahajan stated, “Through the rice regenerative agriculture program in Telangana, we’re actively working towards our goal of reducing value chain emissions and water use. We continue to explore partnerships in line with our ESG action plan to expand the impact of our work and leverage synergies.”
Community Impact Report
Concurrently, Diageo’s Irish branch has released its first Community Impact Report, highlighting a €1.7 million investment in community projects from July 2023 to June 2024.
The report emphasizes Diageo’s commitment to culture, education, community projects, and inclusivity.
Diageo Ireland also documented significant volunteer efforts, particularly in the Dublin 8 area, where employees contributed time to support local schools and charities.
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