Yorkshire leading the way in brewing collaboration

The Farexchange Programme has given the drinks industry a major boost by establishing a secure supply chain which has resulted in a new multi-million pound malting barley intake facility at Muntons Plc.

By linking Yorkshire and Humber's farmers with a major malt manufacturer in the region, Farexchange's initiative has led to the investment in this state-of-the-art dedicated storage extension in Bridlington, which has huge environmental and energy efficient benefits for the malting barley industry.

Formally opened by the High Sheriff of the East Riding of Yorkshire on 19 May, the ambitious £4million project at Muntons Plc's Flamborough site boasts 24,000 tonnes of barley storage, high-tec barley cleaning equipment, highly efficient and environmentally friendly barley drying and a safety focused vehicle management system.

This unique project, which received a grant of £780,000 from Yorkshire Forward through the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE), will also mean a reduced carbon footprint for malting operations due to less haulage movements and more efficient processing.

The barley drier alone will cut CO² emissions by around 650 tonnes per year compared to farm based drying. In environmental terms this would require around 236 hectares of mature woodland to produce a similar reduction in CO².*

Farexchange, operationally led by English Farming and Food Partnerships Ltd (EFFP), was created specifically to ensure sustainable and secure food supplies by linking Yorkshire and Humber's farmers, food companies and retailers more effectively.

EFFP brokered the deal between Muntons Plc and two farmer co-operatives, Openfield and GrainCo, representing nearly 10,000 growers. The newly formed company, Muntons Malt Supply Chain (MMSC), has secured unique contracts between itself, farmers and Muntons' major distilling and brewing customers.

In addition to environmental and energy benefits, farmers in the MMSC scheme profit from fixed forward pricing above the benchmark for feed wheat and trouble free storage at the superb new facility, which has been equipped to maintain the high quality and integrity of the barley, leaving farmers free to concentrate on what they do best.

The advantages for distillers and brewers are continuity and security of supply for quality British malting barley - a product which is facing increased land competition from other crops.

Muntons' general manager Guy Newsam said: "We are proud to be a major player for an innovative solution for the secure movement of quality malting barley. The key aim of the MMSC is to help growers understand the requirements of all partners in the brewing industry and deliver smart supply chain solutions."

The company's Flamborough Maltings complex manufactures 95,000 tonnes of malt per year. Each tonne of malt has the potential to produce around 15,000 pints of four percent strength beer or 600 bottles of cask strength whisky.

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