Riordan is proud to work alongside Asahi Beverages and Southern Farming Systems (SFS) to support more sustainable and efficient barley production through the Asahi Victorian Barley Program.
This partnership brings together growers, research and industry to improve on-farm performance, strengthen supply chain alignment, and ensure a consistent supply of high-quality barley for premium beer production.
As part of this work, we recently welcomed the SFS team for a tour across key parts of the supply chain – connecting detailed agronomic research with the operational scale required to move grain from farm to end user.
The visit began at the Port of Geelong, where the team saw a 35,000-tonne barley vessel being loaded for export. Grain was transferred from both port storage and directly from trucks, demonstrating the efficiency, coordination and flexibility required to execute large-scale export programs.
At our Lara site, the team toured fertiliser and grain storage operations. With sowing approaching, the site was operating at pace, loading MAP fertiliser across a steady flow of trucks bound for Victorian grain farms.
A visit to Riordan head office provided valuable insight into the day-to-day coordination behind grain marketing, transport, and storage programs – highlighting the systems and expertise required within a fully integrated agribusiness.
The tour concluded at the Asahi – Carlton & United Breweries Abbotsford facility, where the brewing process converts barley into some of Australia’s leading beer brands. The pilot brewery was most enlightening, directly linking varietal performance and grain quality to end-use outcomes.
This visit reinforced the value of working together and learning from each other – from research through to the final product. Engagement at each stage is critical to strengthening alignment, improving understanding, and delivering better outcomes for growers, customers, and industry.
We thank the SFS team for their interest in our business and ongoing contribution to the program.