Science Worth Sharing

The Carlsberg Research Laboratory in Copenhagen has announced a scientific breakthrough that could help protect the world’s food supply from climate-driven losses. In keeping with their philosophy that “like beer, science should be shared,” the company published their findings in the peer-reviewed journal Science on November 6, making them freely available to researchers and crop breeders around the globe.

The research addresses a costly agricultural problem: pre-harvest sprouting in cereal crops like barley, wheat, and rice. When unpredictable weather patterns intensified by climate change cause grains to germinate before harvest, the result is reduced grain quality, increased susceptibility to spoilage and mold, and crops that often can’t even be used as animal feed. The losses run into billions of dollars annually.

Mapping Nature’s Solutions

Using advanced genetic analysis and field trials across multiple continents, the researchers mapped how different variants of the MKK3 gene affect crop dormancy in barley from around the world. The work reveals how centuries of farming and climate adaptation have shaped the genetic landscape of this vital crop.

“Our work shows how centuries of farming and climate adaptation have shaped the genetic landscape of this vital crop and provides a roadmap for breeders to balance dormancy and sprouting risk,” said Christoph Dockter, Head of Cereal Crop Development at the Carlsberg Research Laboratory. The findings give crop breeders practical tools to help farmers grow better crops even as weather becomes increasingly unpredictable.

A Legacy of Discovery

Founded in 1875, the Carlsberg Research Laboratory has a history of discoveries that reach far beyond brewing. From inventing the pH scale in 1909 to winning a Nobel Prize for click chemistry in 2022, the lab demonstrates what’s possible when research is pursued for the long term. Thanks to grants from the Carlsberg Foundation, the laboratory can take on projects that are too slow and too risky for most corporations—projects that might just change the world.

THE HEART OF IT: True innovation doesn’t hoard its discoveries—it shares them. When a company decides that protecting the global food supply matters more than proprietary advantage, it reminds us that business and benevolence need not be at odds. The best science, like the best communities, thrives when knowledge flows freely.

SOURCE: Carlsberg Group, November 6, 2025: https://www.carlsberggroup.com/newsroom/carlsberg-research-laboratory-shares-breakthrough-discovery-to-help-secure-crop-resilience-amidst-climate-change/