Carlsberg has introduced “Grobund,” Denmark’s first beer brewed entirely with regeneratively grown barley malt, marking a significant step in the brewery’s long-term sustainability strategy. The new beer, set to debut at the Danish political festival Folkemødet, symbolizes Carlsberg’s ambition to shift its entire production to regenerative agriculture by 2040.
Grobund, developed at Carlsberg’s house brewery at Valby Bakke, will be available on tap and in cans during the summer at Folkemødet and the Home of Carlsberg. Although a limited release, the launch signals the beginning of a broader transition across Carlsberg Denmark’s brewing operations.
By 2026, the company plans to brew over 100 million litres of beer using regeneratively grown barley malt. This follows the signing of a new contract with malt suppliers Fuglsang and Viking Malt for the 2025 harvest. The agreement secures the delivery of 14,800 tonnes of malted barley—up from 500 tonnes previously—representing approximately 40% of Carlsberg Denmark’s annual malt consumption.
“Grobund will be the symbol of a much larger movement for Carlsberg,” said Peter Haahr Nielsen, Managing Director of Carlsberg Denmark. “We are already testing regenerative malt in our classic pilsner. The goal is to transition entirely to regenerative grain by 2040 across the Carlsberg Group.”
Regenerative agriculture, while not universally defined, generally includes practices such as crop rotation, year-round plant cover, and minimal soil disturbance. Carlsberg has developed its own criteria in collaboration with Danish consultancy Agrovi and several international experts.
According to Nielsen, raw materials account for around 40% of Carlsberg Denmark’s total carbon emissions. Transitioning to regenerative agriculture is seen as a key strategy to reduce emissions, improve soil health, and enhance biodiversity.
“This initiative reflects our belief in regenerative grain as the future of brewing. It’s not just a local effort—it’s a global commitment,” Nielsen added.
With Grobund serving as a tangible first step, Carlsberg positions itself at the forefront of sustainable brewing, aligning environmental responsibility with its core product innovation.
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