AB InBev Marks Barley Growers Day in India, Strengthens Sustainable Barley Supply Chains

10 February 2026, New Delhi: AB InBev India marked the 6th Annual Barley Growers Day in Chomu, Rajasthan, reaffirming its long-term commitment to building a resilient and sustainable barley ecosystem in India through its flagship SmartBarley programme. The event was attended by farmers, agronomists, researchers, supply-chain partners and policymakers, highlighting the growing importance of domestic malt-quality barley in India’s agri and beverage value chain.

The SmartBarley programme currently supports more than 2,000 barley farmers across Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, focusing on sustainable agriculture, scientific farming practices and stronger local supply chains. Over the past decade, the initiative has delivered measurable outcomes across three core pillars—farmer skill development, digital connectivity and financial empowerment.

Speaking at the event, Ingrid De Ryck, Chief Sustainability Officer, AB InBev, said SmartBarley demonstrates how sustainability is embedded in the company’s agricultural sourcing strategy. She emphasised that investments in farmer capabilities, digital tools and sustainable practices are helping farmers build resilience while supporting AB InBev’s global ambition to source high-quality ingredients responsibly.

The 2026 edition of Barley Growers Day featured knowledge-sharing sessions, technology showcases and farmer recognition, with a strong focus on technology-enabled and regenerative barley cultivation. As demand for high-quality malt barley grows in India, AB InBev India reiterated its commitment to expanding SmartBarley into new regions, increasing per-farmer land allocation for malt-quality barley and deepening long-term partnerships with farmers.

AB InBev’s global agricultural programmes operate across major barley-growing regions worldwide, supporting farmers with science-based agronomy, sustainable practices, digital advisory tools and improved market access. In India, the company has worked with barley farmers since 2009, with the SmartBarley framework formally launched in 2016.

Arun Jacob Mathews, Director – Procurement & Sustainability, AB InBev India, noted that equipping farmers with regenerative practices and timely insights is critical to building resilient future supply chains, adding that farmer adoption and trust remain central to the programme’s success.

As part of its broader farmer-wellbeing efforts, AB InBev India also announced a vision care intervention for barley farmers in Rajasthan. In partnership with VisionSpring Foundation, the initiative has enabled vision screenings and prescription eyeglasses for more than 400 farmers in Chomu. The programme addresses uncorrected vision impairments that can affect farm productivity and safety, with research indicating that corrected vision can improve productivity by up to 30 percent.

SmartBarley continues to scale as AB InBev India’s farmer-first platform, integrating science, digital tools and market access to strengthen domestic barley sourcing. Barley Growers Day 2026 forms part of AB InBev’s global “Cheers to Farmers” platform, underscoring the role of resilient agricultural systems in sustainable business growth and broader agri-economic development.

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