Agricultural officials collect air samples from a rice field using the Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) method to analyse humidity levels.

Lao Brewery begins dry-season rice harvest using climate-smart techniques

Sustainable rice initiative expands to 600 hectares, benefiting more than 400 families nationwide.

Lao Brewery Company Limited (LBC) has begun harvesting dry-season rice under its Sustainable Rice Farming Promotion Project, reinforcing its commitment to environmentally responsible agriculture in Laos.
​Building on previous successes, LBC continues to integrate livestock within paddy fields to reduce the labour needed for weed and pest control, while enhancing biodiversity. This regenerative practice remains a core component of the project’s ongoing farming system.
​In collaboration with the Rice and Cash Crops Research Center, the programme has scaled the use of the Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) technique.

​Farmers participating in the project learn about the implementation and environmental benefits of the AWD method.

The initiative currently supports more than 400 farming families cultivating over 600 hectares of land, with all plots managed to meet Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) and organic standards.
​The AWD technique, which involves periodically allowing fields to dry between irrigation cycles, has reduced water usage by up to 30 percent and lowered greenhouse gas emissions. It also supports soil restoration, ensuring long-term productivity for future generations.
​For participating farmers, the approach has improved yields and quality while lowering production costs. These farmers now enjoy better access to markets for GAP and organic-certified produce, leading to stronger incomes and livelihood security.

An agricultural official points out the expanded tiller branching on a rice plant, a key benefit of the water-saving, low-emission AWD farming method.	LBC rice harvester at work in Hadxayfong district during the dry-season harvest.

​The harvested rice feeds directly into LBC’s production chain. GAP-certified rice serves as a key raw material for Beerlao Lager, while organic rice is used in the production of Beerlao Green.
LBC noted that the initiative reflects the company’s responsibility and steadfast commitment to taking concrete action on the ground — values that are fully aligned with Brewing Tomorrow, Carlsberg Group’s global sustainability programme, which guides the group’s direction across its markets.
The commencement of this year’s dry-season harvest represents another significant step in jointly developing a rice farming system that is efficient, environmentally sound, and economically inclusive — while supporting Laos’ broader goals of reducing dependence on imported raw materials and building a resilient national agricultural sector for the long term.

Vientiane agricultural officials, LBC representatives, and local farmers inspect a rice field following a training session on AWD techniques.

By Advertorial Desk
 (Latest UpdateApril 8, 2026)