BASF and Boortmalt, the world’s largest malted barley provider, have successfully generated Europe’s first Verified Impact Units (VIUs) by reducing and removing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from on-farm activities. This milestone marks a significant step in the journey toward net-zero barley production, demonstrating the potential of climate-smart agriculture.

“The journey we started in 2022 has now reached a pivotal stage with the generation of VIUs,” said Marko Grozdanovic, Senior Vice President of Global Marketing at BASF Agricultural Solutions. “This achievement highlights the effectiveness of our Global Carbon Farming Program and emphasizes the importance of connecting farmers with stakeholders across the value chain to create scalable solutions.”

Under BASF’s Global Carbon Farming Program, enabled by xarvio® Digital Farming Solutions, barley farmers in Ireland have implemented sustainable practices such as cover cropping. These efforts have resulted in an average reduction of 2.3 tons of CO2e per hectare, cutting GHG emissions by nearly 90% and bringing barley production closer to net-zero. The certification of these emissions reductions represents a breakthrough for companies seeking credible mechanisms to verify on-farm sustainability efforts, helping them meet Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) commitments and address Scope 3 emissions.

“We are incredibly proud to be the first in Europe to achieve Verra’s standard of verification for carbon insetting,” said Gustavo Palerosi Carneiro, Senior Vice President of BASF Agricultural Solutions for EMEA & CIS. “With reliable certification, farmers are rewarded for adopting sustainable practices that benefit the environment while maintaining productivity. We look forward to working with the food value chain and farmers to expand our Carbon Farming Program and develop innovative solutions for sustainable agriculture.”

Boortmalt has played a key role in supporting farmers throughout this initiative, with its agronomists working closely in the field. While farmers recognize the benefits of sustainable agriculture—including improved soil health, biodiversity, and environmental protection—the transition from conventional farming methods presents challenges. Beyond acquiring new knowledge, farmers often require additional investments, such as purchasing cover crop seeds. Recognizing this, Boortmalt has developed a value chain approach that not only reduces emissions but also creates profitability opportunities for growers to facilitate and accelerate the shift toward regenerative farming.

“These first VIUs are a crucial step forward, benefiting farmers and strengthening our commitment to reducing GHG emissions and promoting sustainability,” said Gauthier Boels, Group Sustainable Agriculture Manager at Boortmalt.

BASF’s Carbon Farming Program follows Verra’s agricultural protocol (VM0042) and partners with SustainCERT, an independent verification body for climate impact. “This is a great achievement,” said Marion Verles, CEO of SustainCERT. “We validated and verified the CO2e savings to ensure they meet the highest standards of trust and accountability. Our approach enables companies to demonstrate progress toward their Scope 3 targets by verifying value chain interventions and confirming measurable emissions reductions.”

Looking ahead, BASF plans to expand its Global Carbon Farming Program across multiple crops and regions, delivering similar benefits to different agricultural value chains. For Boortmalt, insights from this initiative will help refine its regenerative agriculture program across various countries, tailored to local conditions. The company remains committed to reducing its barley emissions by 30.3% by 2030, compared to a 2023 baseline, in alignment with its SBTi commitments.