AB InBev donates 30,000 liters of water to drought-stricken farmer

Brewing giant AB InBev has provided 30,000 liters of purified water to Michaël Vanhulst, a farmer in Bierbeek, Belgium, who faced severe water shortages due to persistent drought. Vanhulst's own rainwater silo, which holds 185,000 liters, had run completely dry.

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I am pleasantly surprised and very grateful, because I am just a very small flower farmer and AB InBev is a world giant. That they give me water means a lot to me. This also reassures me for the coming years, because the drought will only get worse.

Vanhulst, who grows flowers and raises pigs, shared his story with Radio 2, recalling how the station had visited him for an interview about the drought. Subsequently, he received a message from the Boerenbond (Farmers' Union) informing him that AB InBev could supply water. "I am pleasantly surprised and very grateful," Vanhulst stated, emphasizing his status as a small flower farmer receiving aid from a global corporation. He also found reassurance for future years, anticipating that drought conditions will worsen.

Aron Wils of AB InBev explained that the brewery purifies about 3 million liters of water daily and already shares a portion with the community. The city of Leuven regularly collects water for its plants, and farmers are also welcome to access the supply. "The brewery wants to be part of the wider society, and agriculture is important to us," Wils said. "Beer is made with natural ingredients. We need barley and hops from farmers to make beer, so we are happy to give something back to them."

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The idea is not new, because we already give part of our purified water back to the community.

While a significant amount of the purified water is further treated for drinking and used internally for processes like rinsing brewing kettles, AB InBev ensures there is enough surplus to support agriculture. This initiative highlights the company's commitment to supporting local communities and the agricultural sector, especially during challenging environmental conditions.

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The brewery wants to be part of the wider society, and agriculture is important to us. Beer is made with natural ingredients. We need the barley and the hops from the farmers to eventually make beer, so we are happy to give something back to them.