Anora and Baltic Sea Action Group continue long-term collaboration to promote regenerative farming and protect the Baltic Sea

Anora and BSAG have been partners since 2015, united by a shared ambition to support a healthier Baltic Sea and promote more sustainable agricultural practices. The collaboration has already yielded tangible results, the world’s first vodka made from regeneratively farmed barley, and successful training of contract farmers in regenerative farming methods.

In previous commitments, Anora has focused on reducing water consumption and supporting contract farmers in transitioning to more nutrient-efficient and environmentally friendly cultivation methods. Anora also joined the Carbon Action platform to help advance regenerative agriculture.

“Anora is one of the largest buyers of Finnish barley, processing around 180 million kilograms of grain from approximately 1,500 Finnish farms each year. Our scale gives us a significant opportunity to drive positive change,” says Kari Kiltilä, Category Sourcing Manager at Anora.

“Integrating regenerative agriculture into our supply chain is a cornerstone of our sustainability roadmap. It not only helps us reduce value chain emissions but also improves soil health and protects the Baltic Sea from nutrient runoff improving biodiversity. This commitment demonstrates how we can work with our farmers to build a more resilient and environmentally friendly upstream production.”

Regenerative farming offers a set of tools to combat climate change and environmental degradation. By improving soil health, it enhances carbon sequestration, supports biodiversity, and reduces the nutrient runoffs that harm the Baltic Sea. These practices also create financial benefits for farmers by increasing the resilience and yield of their land.

“The condition of the soil does not improve in just a year or two. That is why it is significant that Anora is now making its third commitment to promoting the health of both the soil and the Baltic Sea. Our long-term partnership, which is now entering its tenth year, supports both Anora’s strategic objectives and a sustainable future for the Baltic Sea. We look forward to seeing what we can accomplish together in the years ahead,” says Ville Wahlberg, CEO of BSAG.

The commitment to support regenerative farming is part of Anora’s ambitious sustainability work. Anora aims to achieve fossil-free production at Koskenkorva distillery by the end of 2026 and across all of its own operations by 2030, without carbon offsets. Anora has also set science-based emissions reduction targets with the goal of achieving net-zero emissions across our value chain by 2050. In autumn 2024, the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) officially validated Anora’s near-term, net-zero, and FLAG targets. Anora also aims to enhance circular economy by reducing wastewater by 20%, increasing the recycling rate of waste to 90% and reducing landfill waste to zero by 2030.