DÙTHCHAS
Highland Grain’s business philosophy is best captured by the Gaelic term Dùthchas (pronounced ‘doo-chas’ - think loch, not chair). Dùthchas embodies a deep connection to the land, a sense of belonging, and a duty of stewardship. It reflects our responsibility to care for the land, ensuring it remains fertile and productive for future generations. At its core, Dùthchas unites people, land, and culture in a single concept. This principle is the foundation of our business - our shared commitment to working together, preserving the land in our care, and passing it on to the next generation of farmers.
PEOPLE & PLACE
Everything we do is driven by a deep sense of belonging - to the Highland region, to the land that we hold so dear and to each and every one of the farmers & families that put their heart & soul into the soil that produces our grain. All of this effort in the hope that our yearly harvest might be the best reflection of who we are and what we believe.
A PROUD CO-OPERATIVE
Connection is everything. That’s why our commitment to producing the finest grain is built on a cooperative model that gives every one of our members an equal voice, offering farmers shared ownership of an agricultural business. Highland Grain brings together 75 family farms across the Highland region, each with a say in how the cooperative is run, working together in partnership to achieve a common goal of producing the very finest malting barley. It’s a way of working we have championed since Highland Grain was founded on The Black Isle in 1977.
OUR HISTORY
When it comes to history, our links to the land go back much further than our formation, with records existing from some of our members regarding the supply of barley for whisky as far back as 1783. The concept of Highland Grain itself stretches back decades. First formed as Black Isle Grain in 1977, the co-op was established, in part, to ensure that local farmers had a collective voice when selling their grain to the supply chain. Almost 15 years later, Black Isle Grain amalgamated with Easter Ross Grain to form what we now know as Highland Grain Limited.
A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
It’s from this long lineage that the story of Highland Grain continues, with our current members committed to building a sustainable future, ensuring that the land continues to produce grain for Scotland’s whisky for many generations to come.
BECOME A MEMBER
Our cooperative of family farms is known for its open and welcoming approach, so we are always interested in hearing from potential new member farms from across the Highland region. If you are interested in helping us uphold the reputation for excellence that we hold so dear, we would love to hear from you.
