Diageo India (United Spirits Ltd.) has launched a new regenerative agriculture programme in Telangana aimed at reducing the carbon and water footprint in its supply chain. The initiative, developed in partnership with the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, will focus on implementing sustainable farming practices for rice cultivation in the region. In its first phase, the programme will cover over 500 hectares across 15 villages in Telangana, benefiting more than 220 farmers.
The programme’s goal is to reduce carbon emissions and water usage in rice production, addressing two key environmental concerns linked to agriculture. Reports show that rice production accounts for approximately 17% of India’s agricultural Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. Since broken rice is a key raw material in Diageo India’s supply chain, the company hopes that by encouraging sustainable rice farming, it will be able to reduce its Scope 3 emissions, which cover indirect emissions from its supply chain.
Under the programme, small-holder farmers will receive training on several sustainable farming practices. These include soil health management, water-efficient irrigation techniques and methods that can help increase the resilience of farming communities. The company has already mapped the areas where it sources broken rice and conducted lifecycle assessments to calculate emission factors. Based on these findings, Diageo India has started implementing several regenerative practices, including alternate wetting and drying (AWD), direct rice seeding, and the system of rice intensification.
As per the reports, implementing AWD can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 39% and decrease irrigation water usage by 34%. These practices aim not only to reduce emissions but also to improve soil health, enhance biodiversity, and reduce dependence on synthetic fertilizers.
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Jitendra Mahajan, Chief Supply and Sustainability Officer at Diageo India, emphasized that the programme was designed to support farmers in local communities while also strengthening the company’s supply chain.
“This initiative is a step forward in our journey to champion ‘Grain to Glass Sustainability’, a key focus area under our ‘Spirit of Progress’ ESG action plan. Through the rice regenerative agriculture programme in Telangana, we’re actively working towards our goal of reducing value chain (Scope 3) emissions by 50% and water use by 30%.”
Dr. G.V. Ramanjaneyulu, Executive Director at the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, highlighted the importance of the partnership with Diageo India. He described the programme as a step towards promoting resource-efficient farming practices and a sustainable future for rice production in Telangana. “Regenerative agriculture practices offer a holistic approach to farming that can improve soil health, biodiversity, and climate resilience,” he said.
The initiative is expected to be scaled up in the coming years, with both Diageo India and the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture working together to promote more sustainable practices in rice production and to help mitigate the environmental impacts of farming in the region.
