, United States
John pioneered the development and launch of SmartBarley at his company Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB Inbev). SmartBarley is a technology that allows barley farmers across the world to benchmark their production. The technology, which is designed around the farmers, facilitates the exchange of knowledge between the developed and developing world. This allows a farmer in the US to learn from a farmer in Brazil, and develop skills that not only apply to barley production but to all crops produced by AB InBev farmer suppliers. The primary aim of SmartBarley is to provide a platform for exchanging best practices that help growers improve their productivity, profitability and natural resource efficiency.
Following a successful global pilot in 2014, Anheuser-Busch InBev is accelerating the activities and investment behind SmartBarley in 2015. From February through April, John and his team organized discussion groups with growers across the world to gather feedback on how to improve the platform – leading to an expanded set of metrics, improved usability and mobile compatibility. One key improvement has been enhancing the metrics on crop protectants, guiding growers on optimizing chemical use to maximize yield and reduce over application.
With the platform facilitating the exchange of existing best practices, AB InBev is focused on pushing gains in productivity and natural resource use efficiency to new levels. John has worked with his teams to implement a portfolio of 17 field projects that bring new technologies and practices to barley production – ranging from satellite imagery that aids crop management in Russia, an extension of the AB InBev management system to barley cooperatives in South America, an irrigation scheduling technology that reduces water use in the US, and a nitrogen sensor program in Mexico to reduce fertilization. Driven by SmartBarley, these projects will improve today’s benchmarks for tomorrow.
Another key focus in 2015 is broadening to new countries, including the UK and India, as well as increasing the number of participating fields by 25%. To support this aim, AB InBev is facilitating 9 large grower field days across the world to train growers on how to engage with SmartBarley, as well as discuss initial findings and improved practices for barley production. Through bringing together growers and the AB InBev team, these events embody the promise and value of SmartBarley.