The Anheuser-Busch Foundation Commits More Than $120,000 to Support Sustainable Agriculture Research at Land Grant Universities

November 14, 2022 - The Anheuser-Busch Foundation today announced donations to support agriculture research at three land grant universities around the country to advance sustainable farming practices. North Dakota State University, Montana State University and the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture will receive funding for research at their model farms, which were created to support the continued development of innovative farming practices that can drive sustainability and future solutions.

The model farm research seeks to answer key questions around soil health, water conservation, rotations, cover cropping, tillage and other agriculture techniques to enhance grower education and the development of more sustainable methods. As part of Anheuser-Busch’s 2025 Sustainability Goals, the brewer is committed to testing, developing and sharing the use of sustainable farming best-practices to grow high-quality ingredients while also benefiting farmers and their communities.

“The work being done at these research universities is critical as the industry collectively looks for ways to advance sustainability while improving yields and farm profitability,” said John Rogers, U.S. Chief Sustainability and Procurement Officer at Anheuser-Busch. “As part of our commitment to the local growers that are core to our success, it’s important for us to be a part of the efforts that move the industry forward. We’re proud to continue our partnerships with these universities to support the environment and help our growers continue to thrive.”

“We’re excited to support these universities and by extension our growers, who produce the high-quality ingredients that go into the beers that our consumers know and love,” said Colleen Lucas, Vice President of Community Impact at Anheuser-Busch. “Through the power of our partnership, this academic consortium is paving the way for a more sustainable future.”

The donations will focus on the following areas:

• North Dakota State University: The Anheuser-Busch Foundation will contribute $55,000 to their network of Soil Health and Agriculture Research and Extension (SHARE) Farms to continue nitrogen rate studies, validate new baseline recommendations for barley and soil health-cover crops, and further disseminate SHARE Farm data to farmers by expanding the university’s “Soil Sense and the Field Check” podcast on a national level.
• Montana State University: The University will receive a $43,200 contribution for research into the effects that soil acidification has on barley yields, support a hyperspectral analysis of preharvest sprouting damage, as well as the remote sensing of drought, stress and pH tolerance in different barley varieties.
• University of Arkansas: The $25,000 commitment from the Anheuser-Busch Foundation, with a $25,000 match from the AB InBev Foundation, will further empower the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture to work with its network of Discovery Farms to evaluate the impact of conservation practices and develop industrywide solutions to combat excess fertilizer use and irrigation runoff, supporting a pathway to decarbonize rice production.

“We're looking forward to continuing our efforts to test and further share best practices for soil health,” said Abbey Wick, Associate Professor, Extension Soil Health Specialist at North Dakota State University. “Through the Foundation’s funding of this ongoing research, the nation’s leading brewer is showing that sustainability and smart agriculture are a priority for us all.”

“With support from the Anheuser-Busch Foundation, we are able to answer more challenging questions,” said Justin M. Vetch, Superintendent and Assistant Professor of Agronomy at Montana State University. “Our partnership with Anheuser-Busch will help us continue to find ways to sustainably improve yields for our state’s barley growers and make a positive impact throughout the greater region.”

As key ingredients in the brewing process, Anheuser-Busch purchased more than 37.7 million bushels of barley and 18.3 million bushels of rice directly from U.S. farmers in 2021. As top producing states of those ingredients, the long-term success of farms in Arkansas and Montana are vital to the company’s ability to brew its beers with high-quality ingredients. Through the donations to these universities, the Anheuser-Busch Foundation will partner with farmers to further the development of sustainable solutions that will support the continuous improvement, profitability and environmental health of the agriculture industry.

“The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture and specifically the Discovery Farm Program is excited about our continued partnership with Anheuser-Busch to help rice producers in Arkansas to continually move toward greater production efficiency and natural resource sustainability,” said Mike Daniels, Professor and Extension Soil and Water Conservation Scientist at the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. “These types of partnerships provide powerful approaches to solving problems that benefit everyone.”

About Anheuser-Busch

At Anheuser-Busch, our purpose is to create a future with more cheers. We are always looking to serve up new ways to meet life's moments, dream big to move our industry forward, and make a meaningful impact in the world. We hope to build a future that everyone can celebrate, and everyone can share. For more than 160 years, Anheuser-Busch has carried on a legacy of brewing great-tasting, high-quality beers that have satisfied beer drinkers for generations. Today, we own and operate more than 120 facilities, including breweries, wholesaler distribution centers, agricultural facilities and packaging plants, and have more than 19,000 colleagues across the United States. We are home to several of America's most loved beer and beyond beer brands, including Michelob ULTRA, Cutwater Spirits, Stella Artois, Budweiser and Bud Light as well as a number of regional brands that provide beer drinkers with a choice of the best-tasting craft beers in the industry. From responsible drinking programs and emergency drinking water donations to industry-leading sustainability efforts, we are guided by our unwavering commitment to supporting the communities we call home. For more information, visit. For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com or follow Anheuser-Busch on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

About The Anheuser-Busch Foundation

Established in 1975, the Anheuser-Busch Foundation focuses on supporting organizations that help individuals and communities thrive. The Foundation contributes to countless community organizations every year in support of disaster preparedness and relief, economic development, education, environmental sustainability, and responsible drinking. Anheuser-Busch and its foundation are united by an unwavering commitment to supporting the communities that they call home and since 2011, Anheuser-Busch and the Anheuser-Busch Foundation have donated more than $221 million to charitable organizations across the country. For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com.