Funding helped us to innovate and collaborate
Innovation at a Scottish distillery has led to the creation of the world’s first climate-positive gin, thanks to Horizon Europe funding.
Arbikie, a family-run distillery on Scotland’s east coast, is leading a quiet revolution in the spirits industry.
Known for producing the world’s first climate-positive gin and vodka, the company has reimagined traditional distilling by using peas instead of conventional grains. This eliminates the need for nitrogen fertilisers, making their spirits both environmentally and economically sustainable.
A major turning point in the Arbikie Distillery’s journey came when it secured support from Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship research and innovation programme. With a budget of over £80 billion running from 2021 to 2027, Horizon Europe funds projects that tackle global challenges such as climate change, clean energy, and sustainable agriculture. Crucially, the programme is open to organisations across Europe and beyond—including UK-based companies like the Arbikie Distillery.
Why Horizon Europe funding made the difference
For Arbikie, Horizon Europe funding was transformative. It enabled the distillery to collaborate with scientists and researchers across Europe to rigorously assess and validate the environmental impact of their pea-based spirits. This scientific backing was essential in proving that their products are not just low-carbon, but climate-positive—removing more carbon from the atmosphere than they emit.
“Horizon helped us connect and collaborate with different, specialised organisations across the Continent that we would never have met otherwise,” Dr Kirsty Black says.
“We understand how to make alcohol, but the project consisted of 23 other organisations who had their own areas of expertise – through this we improved our upstream and downstream activities. For example, we trialled alternative cropping systems, quantified the carbon footprint of producing legume-based spirits through lifecycle analysis experts and explored uses for our by-products.”
This has opened up new markets and attracted attention from environmentally conscious consumers.
A platform for global recognition
Thanks to Horizon Europe, Arbikie has gained international visibility. Their climate-positive spirits have been featured in major publications and have won multiple awards. “Being part of a Horizon project has opened doors for us across the globe,” added Dr Black.
Inspiring broader change
Arbikie’s success is a powerful example of how traditional industries can embrace innovation to address climate challenges. Their journey shows that sustainability and profitability are not mutually exclusive—and that with the right support, small businesses can lead the way.
Could the next breakthrough be yours?
We have an entire hub of information dedicated to Horizon Europe, offering help and advice to companies and organisations that might benefit from the programme’s backing and collaboration, with the average grant for UK businesses standing at £530,000. Could you be the next great British success story?