Two Kildare farmers nominated for awards after cultivating key ingredient to Guinness

Two barley growers from Kildare are amongst the finalists in the prestigious Irish Malting Barley Excellence Awards 2016, held at the Guinness Storehouse on Wednesday November 30. The awards recognise excellence in malting barley production and promote sustainability in the supply chain.

The Irish Malting Excellence Awards are organised by Boortmalt, one of the largest producers of malt in the world and hosted by Diageo, the largest purchaser of malting barley in Ireland. Finalists for the 2016 crop were chosen from the five Boortmalt supply regions in Ireland, plus one specifically for seed producers.

This year Kildare barley growers Joyce and Robert Chambers from Castlemitchell will join Nicholas Brennan(pictured above), Barrowhouse in the Guinness Storehouse for the awards ceremony.

The Chambers, who are third generation barley growers said their formula for success was: “Attention to detail and consistently ensuring the same seeding rates and fertiliser rates as per the Boortmalt and Teagasc programme.”

Castlemitchell farmer Robert Chambers has been nominated for an award.

Nicholas Brennan from Barrowhouse, a first-generation malting barley grower advises barley growers to “Sow early but if conditions are not favourable be patient.”

The Malting Excellence Awards organised annually by Boortmalt and hosted by Diageo recognise the role that Irish farmers play in producing quality malt enabling production of premium product for export across the world and highlighting the contribution farmers across the country make to the Irish drinks industry.

Malted barley purchased by Diageo from Boortmalt amounts to more than twice the value of Ireland’s total barley exports and over 300 tonnes of it are used daily to make Guinness. Overall Diageo is one of the most important contributors to the Irish rural economy, buying more Irish barley than anyone else.