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From seed to suds: the journey of a sustainable, tech-traceable beer

CONSUMER GOODSDATE POSTED FEBRUARY 10, 2023
Pollinator Pilsner can on barley seeds

Brewing a more traceable, sustainable beer from seed to glass. Learn how TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods helped craft the Pollinator Pilsner.

Beer begins with a few simple ingredients: water, yeast, hops, and malt. What makes each beer unique is how those ingredients are combined, grown, and flavoured. Enter the Pollinator Pilsner. Created by Persephone Brewing Company, the Pollinator Pilsner’s distinctiveness comes not only from its sustainably-grown ingredients but from its traceable production, powered by TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods.

Persephone and its farming partners worked with TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods to ensure that the barley used in the Pollinator Pilsner is sustainably produced and traceable from the planting of the seed, to harvesting, right through to the malting and brewing process. Integrating TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods technology, including precision agronomy and farm management tools and farm-to-food traceability, quality and supply chain management solutions, enables Persephone to give beer fans a complete, verified view of production. By scanning a QR code on the beer can, consumers can see the 1,200 kilometre journey from farm to brewery, learning how the Pollinator Pilsner is sustainably farmed, brewed, and monitored for quality and safety.

Brewing a more sustainable, tech-traceable beer

As part of our commitment to create a safer, more sustainable food system, we're using technology to help improve the traceability and quality of our food. TELUS Agriculture is working with Persephone Brewing Company to help brew their most sustainable and traceable beer – the Pollinator Pilsner.

Brian Smith, CEO and owner of Persephone, Canada’s only farm-based Certified B-Corp brewery, said, “Sustainability is a core driver for us in everything we do and we know it’s important to our customers too so we’re thrilled to be able to provide them with verified traceability.”

The sustainable and traceable path of the Pollinator Pilsner

Pollinator Pilsner journey shown with icons of a farm to processor to truck to brewery to store.

1. Farm

The journey starts on farm where barley seeds are planted, fertilized, sprayed and harvested using precision insights from TELUS Weather Stations, satellite imaging and soil analysis and traceability solutions. This data-driven approach helps get the most from the land with the least environmental impact.

2. Processor

The harvested barley is then sent to Persephone’s processor to convert into malt. Using TELUS Quality Management solution, the malt is checked for standards like moisture levels, weight and plumpness to ensure optimal quality.

3. Transport

The processed malt is packaged for shipment and monitored using TELUS Supplier Management software. This solution verifies supplier standards are met and can pinpoint any issues down to the batch, enabling better food traceability and safety.

4. Brewery

At Persephone, the malt is brewed with local honey, water, yeast and hops, and monitored for quality and taste, backed by TELUS Quality Management solution.

5. Consumer

The packaged pilsner is shipped to stores, with customers having the option of tracing its journey by simply scanning a QR code.

TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods is committed to creating a safer, more sustainable food system by connecting everyone in the food value chain. Learn more about our integrated solutions for agribusiness and food, beverage and consumer goods companies.