Sustaining Barley Webinar Series | Understanding and Managing Carbon

Sustaining Barley Webinar Series

Understanding & Managing Carbon

October 27, 2026 @ 11 am CT

Speakers:

Lauren McNeil | The University of British Columbia | PhD student

Presentation: "Regionalized life cycle inventory and assessment of conventional and potential alternative malting barley production practices in the Canadian Prairie provinces."

Bio: Lauren is a PhD student in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bath. Her research focuses on understanding and managing the sustainability of agricultural systems. She applies life cycle assessment methodology to evaluate the environmental impacts, such as global warming, and resource intensity of agricultural production. Her research also employs scenario-based modelling frameworks to assess the opportunities and trade-offs of transitioning to alternative food production systems. McNeil's recent Master’s research at the University of British Columbia assessed the regional environmental impacts and resource use of malting barley production across the Canadian Prairie provinces. The mitigation potential of transitioning from conventional inorganic nitrogen fertilizer to green ammonia was also evaluated through scenario analysis. Her overall research vision is to support the development of more sustainable, climate-resilient food production systems that enhance food security and contribute to the global pathway to net-zero.

Kyle Day | Suntory Global Spirits | Senior Manager Global Environmental Sustainability, Forest & Field

Presentation: "Supporting regenerative corn farming for Kentucky Bourbon"

Bio: Kyle Day serves as Forest & Field Sustainability Sr. Manager for Suntory Global Spirits. He has more than 15 years of experience in ingredient and raw material procurement, focusing the last 2.5 years of his career on sustainability initiatives. In his current role, Kyle works with suppliers and industry partners to pilot programs in the agricultural and forestry realm, to achieve Suntory Global Spirits long-term sustainability goals and help create a more sustainable industry. Kyle is a graduate of the University of Kentucky, with a B.S. in Natural Resource Conservation & Management, G.C. in Environmental Systems and M.S. in Agricultural Economics. He also serves as a board member for The White Oak Initiative, Associated Cooperage Industries of America (VP) and The Nature Conservancy of Kentucky.