Establishing malting on Shetland for enhanced sustainability and reduced carbon footprint of Islands whisky production

As of 2023, the Scotch Whisky industry accounted for 74 % of Scottish food and drink exports with an export value of £5.6 bn (SWA, 2024) with tourism estimated to contribute a further £4 bn to the economy annually (NatureScot). There are currently 151 whisky distilleries in operation in Scotland (SWA), but currently, none operate in Shetland. The potential benefits for the local economy and tourism mean interest in growing the whisky industry on Shetland is increasing (with the first currently in development). There are considerable challenges to the operation of a distillery on Shetland, particularly around the supply of a sufficient quantity of good-quality malted barley. Currently, there are no commercial malting facilities available on Shetland and this requires ferry import from either mainland Scotland or Orkney at considerable financial and environmental cost. Likewise, there are challenges associated with the use of locally sourced grains due to the lack of established barley production (most barley is currently produced on crofts). 

The project will assess a wide variety of barley varieties (elite lines and heritage ones such as Bere) grown on croft sites and under controlled conditions for their potential to produce malt and spirit of suitable quality. The research will develop optimal malting regimes for the barleys most well-adapted for growth on Shetland and will explore malting process innovations to further improve sustainability of whisky produced in the region. Establishing a source of high-quality malted barley on Shetland directly addresses the EPSRC Building a Green Future strategic theme and aligns with iNETZ+ by reducing reliance on ferry import of malt to Shetland and improving the overall carbon footprint of whisky produced using this material. The project has a high scope for impact and will generate research outcomes that can be quickly implemented to grow local malt and whisky production capability and the Islands economy. 

How to Apply:

Apply Online

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(a) in ‘Study Option’ You will need to select ‘Edinburgh’ and ‘Postgraduate Research’. ‘Programme’ presents you with a drop-down menu. Choose Bio-engineering and Bio-sciences PhD for study option

(b) in ‘Research Project Information’

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For questions about the application process, please contact pgr.eps@hw.ac.uk