Our wheat sourcing and cultivation concept
Every year, we use around 100,000 tons of winter wheat in the making of Absolut Vodka, purchasing at least 10 percent of the available wheat harvested at roughly 400 farms in the region surrounding our distillery. This puts a big responsibility on our shoulders, which calls for a clear concept of how to help improve the sustainability tied to the cultivation of wheat, including goals, requirements and guidelines for our partnering farms.
In the making of Absolut Vodka, we only use winter wheat that is sourced as locally as possible in the Skåne region where our distillery is located. With 100,000 tons of wheat used annually, we purchase at least 10 percent of the available wheat harvested at roughly 400 farms in the region.
We promote sustainable agriculture in line with our production philosophy One Source, One Community.
It’s important for us to work with farmers that share our values of both quality and sustainability. Through a tight partnership with the numerous farmers that supply Absolut Vodka’s main ingredient, we promote sustainable agriculture in line with our production philosophy One Source, One Community.
Our wheat cultivation concept includes goals, requirements and guidelines for techniques such as plant protection, nitrogen efficiency and biodiversity for our partnering farmers. We provide training and monitoring to ensure that each farm is properly supported to implement these standards.
We provide training and monitoring to ensure that each farm is properly supported to implement these standards.
Crop rotation is an important practice included in the concept. Farmers rotate crops on a yearly basis between – for example – rapeseed, wheat and peas. This method keeps the soil healthy and minimizes the use of both fertilizers and pesticides.
We also participate in a number of field trials with the Swedish University of Agricultural Studies in order to develop and optimize the cultivation of wheat for Absolut Vodka.