(Pacific Biodiesel) Expansion of Agriculture Operations to Kauaʻi will Increase Local Food Production, Develop Model for Regenerative Agriculture-based Biofuel and Support Hawaiʻi’s Circular Economy -- In commemoration of Earth Day, Pacific Biodiesel Founders Bob and Kelly King welcomed community leaders and local
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Back TO HOMEWith 'Record Droughts' in Income Predicted, Ohio Farmers Look to New Markets for Ethanol
by Jordan Laird (Columbus Dispatch) ... Facing headwinds, Miller (Jon Miller, a grain farmer in Fairfield County) said Ohio corn farmers are hopeful that new markets for ethanol fuel will provide some relief. Airlines are forging ahead with plans to transition to use ethanol to
April 25, 2024 Read Full Article
Garamendi, King Introduce Biomass for Transportation Fuel Act
(Office of Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA 8th)) Supports renewable electricity from forest byproducts to charge electric vehicles -- Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA) and Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME) introduced the "Biomass for Transportation Fuel Act” (H.R.7609), with U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)
April 24, 2024 Read Full Article
New EPA Emissions Rule for Semi-Trucks: EPA Rolls Out World's Toughest Emission Standards for Heavy-Duty Trucks
by Chris Clayton (DTN Progressive Farmer) ... EPA announced new, final national emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles model years 2027 through 2032. Officials stated the new rule would avoid 1 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions while reducing air pollution for
March 29, 2024 Read Full Article
An Uneven and Unpredictable Energy Transition: Light-Duty Vehicles and Electrification Supply and Demand
by Allen Schaeffer (Engine Technology Forum) ... The costs of EVs, challenges facing access to charging infrastructure, and general inflationary moods are some key reasons holding consumers back from purchasing an EV as their personal vehicle. These trends are leading several manufacturers (Ford, Mercedes, Stellantis, and Toyota)
March 13, 2024 Read Full Article
Bears, Cars and Angry Farmers Fuel Green Backlash
by Karl Mathiesen, Nicolas Camut, Zia Weise, Charlie Cooper and Louise Guillot (Politico) A 28-country guide to how climate policies are splitting Europe. -- And Green parties are taking the hit — polling shows they will face deep electoral pain when EU citizens
March 09, 2024 Read Full Article
SEC Adopts Rules to Enhance and Standardize Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors
(U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission) The Securities and Exchange Commission today adopted rules to enhance and standardize climate-related disclosures by public companies and in public offerings. The final rules reflect the Commission’s efforts to respond to investors’ demand for more consistent,
March 08, 2024 Read Full Article
Researchers Seek to Expand Supplies of Clean Aviation Fuels by Producing More from Agricultural Sources
by Tereza Pultarova (Horizon/Tech Xplore) Professor David Chiaramonti is looking down at the ground to help resolve a problem up in the sky: airplanes' emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other pollutants. An expert in energy systems and power generation at the Polytechnic University of Turin
March 04, 2024 Read Full Article
Iowa Can Choose a Sustainable Agricultural Model, or It Can Choose CO2 Pipelines
by James A. Merchant (Des Moines Register) ... The vast majority of the once-independent poultry and livestock farmers are now contractors with large national and multinational meat corporations, two of which are owned by foreign entities — Smithfield Foods, Inc. wholly owned
March 04, 2024 Read Full Article
US Grains Council and Cooperators Announce Partnership to Support Ethanol-based Cooking, Transport in Mozambique
(U.S. Grains Council/Club of Mozambique) On February 29, the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) convened high-level U.S. and Mozambican government officials, industry professionals and other stakeholders to discuss the benefits and challenges of using ethanol biofuel to meet the country’s clean energy
March 01, 2024 Read Full Article
Uncovered: Italian Oil Giant’s African Biofuels Gamble Falls Short
(Transport & Environment/Clean Technica) Investigation into Eni’s projects in Kenya and the Republic of the Congo shows company is failing to produce “miracle” drought-resistant biofuels crops at scale. Italian oil giant Eni is failing to deliver on its promise to produce thousands
February 27, 2024 Read Full Article
Airlines Could Abandon Dirty Jet Fuel with Cleaner Biofuels
(MITECHNEWS.com) In an exciting move toward sustainable fuel, airlines are exploring powering planes with biofuels made from corn and other plants. This would slash aviation pollution and boost American farming, bringing tidy financial and environmental wins, according to The New York Times. Turning
February 26, 2024 Read Full Article
Interview - ‘Vertical Integration Will Help Drive Down Biofuel Costs’
by Sowmya Sundar (Zawya Projects) John Jones, Co-founder and CEO of Omani- Scottish waste to value start-up X2E told Zawya Projects that vertical integration is key to reducing the cost of biofuels to match pump prices -- X2E is building a $1.6 billion
February 17, 2024 Read Full Article
As Part of President Biden’s American Climate Corps, USDA Launches New Working Lands Climate Corps to Train Future Conservation and Climate Leaders on Climate-Smart Agriculture DEADLINE March 8, 2024
(USDA) USDA program will place at least 100 young people in jobs across the country -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced a new effort to train the next generation of conservation and climate leaders. As part of President Biden’s
February 17, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to HEFA Based SAF Projects Utilizing Marginal Land
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A new Aviation Biofuel plant producing HEFA, and Production and test of HEFA in commercial flights in non-segregated mode are the focal points of this presentation by esteemed international researcher David Chiarimonti. The goal is to
February 08, 2024 Read Full Article
2024 Top Producer Women In Ag Award: Demand Creation Is Not A Spectator Sport
(Top Producer Editors/AgWeb) As a sixth generation Iowa farmer, Pam Johnson has been sharing agriculture’s food, fiber and fuel stories her entire life. “Being an advocate for agriculture, it's part of who I am,” she says. Her achievements on the farm and
February 08, 2024 Read Full Article
Report Highlights Biotech’s Contributions to UN Sustainable Development Goals
(Biotechnology Innovation Organization) Biotech has an essential role in achieving sustainable development, says a new report, Biotechnology: Driving Solutions for Sustainable Development. The report was published on Dec. 21 by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) in collaboration with the International Council of
January 05, 2024 Read Full Article
McClellan, Lawler Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Coordinate Federal Soil Carbon Sequestration Efforts
(Office of Representatives Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04)) Representatives Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04) and Mike Lawler (R-NY-17) introduced the bipartisan Coordination for Soil Carbon Research and Monitoring Act to empower the federal government to support interagency work around soil carbon sequestration research and monitoring. Soil carbon sequestration, also known
January 05, 2024 Read Full Article
U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Energy Host Virtual Listening Sessions on Clean Energy Siting on American Farmland --- January 12, 16, and 17, 2024 --- ONLINE Public Comments DEADLINE January 20, 2024
(U.S. Departments of Energy and Agriculture) The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is hosting a series of virtual listening sessions to hear perspectives on the benefits and challenges of the increased levels of
January 03, 2024 Read Full Article
Agricultural Game-Changer on the Horizon for Canola
by Kristi Cox (Seed World) Promising research showing yield increase of a whopping 250% in experimental plants. -- Future canola could see big yield gains thanks to innovative work at the University of Guelph (U of G). Initially, Michael Emes and Ian Tetlow,
December 22, 2023 Read Full Article
Govt to Buy Maize at MSP, Raise Output to Meet Biofuel Needs
by Zia Haq (Hindustan Times) The Union government has signed off on a plan to procure maize at federally fixed minimum support prices (MSP) while increasing its output and productivity by expanding the area under cultivation, as part of a strategy to meet
December 11, 2023 Read Full Article
Review Article Shows Key Role of Brazil in Research on Sugarcane for Bioenergy
(EurekAlert!) The study by researchers at the University of São Paulo also shows that genetic engineering techniques need to be improved in order to increase ethanol production without expanding crop acreage, a strategy considered crucial to cope with climate change Peer-Reviewed Publication FUNDAÇÃO
November 29, 2023 Read Full Article
IFC Invests Sh32 Billion in Kenya’s Biofuel Project
by Allan Odhiambo (Business Daily) The International Finance Corporation(IFC) is set to invest Sh31.96 billion ($210 million) in an agribusiness project by Italian firm, Eni Kenya. The IFC said the investment in the form of a senior loan will support capital requirements
November 20, 2023 Read Full Article
The Potential of Agrivoltaics for the U.S. Solar Industry, Farmers, and Communities
by Michele Boyd (U.S. Department of Energy) Large-scale solar energy installations are a relatively new form of development in many rural areas. Solar energy development can create clean energy, jobs, and other economic benefits in these communities. At the same time, the
November 06, 2023 Read Full Article
A Jet Engine Powered by Switchgrass? UGA Project Is Looking at the Biofuel Possibilities
by Erica Van Buren (Augusta Chronicle) An ongoing study dedicated to identifying and accessing renewable energy source options suggested switchgrass could be a contender. “Switchgrass is a grass that is native to the United States,” said Katrien Devos, research professor of crop
October 30, 2023 Read Full Article
Climate Change Forces Farmers to Rethink Crops
by Marc Heller (Politico Pro Greenwire) A study by the Environmental Defense Fund in Kansas illustrates the challenge farmers there, and around the country, will face due to warming. -- Farmers in the Wheat State may soon develop more of a taste
October 27, 2023 Read Full Article
Opinion: Climate Change and Hunger Are Here Now—a New Farm Bill Can’t Wait
by Beth Ellikidis (Biotechnology Innovation Organization/Agri-Pulse) ... One way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect our climate is by getting more of the energy we use from above the ground instead of beneath it. The biotech company LanzaTech genetically engineers microbes to
October 25, 2023 Read Full Article
Biofuel Boom to Push US Soy Meal Exports to Record High
by Kim Chipman and Tarso Veloso Ribeiro (Bloomberg) Oil from crushed soybeans is key ingredient in green diesel; Soy meal byproduct shipments to pass record in 2024, US says -- Shipments of US soybean meal to other countries are expected to climb to a
October 24, 2023 Read Full Article
Yield10 Bioscience Completes Harvest of a Majority of the 2023 Winter and Spring Camelina Grain Grown Under Contract, Generating Revenue from Biofuel Production
(Yield10 Globe Newswire) Begins revenue generation for “Camelina Seed Genetics to Biofuel” platform -- Yield10 Bioscience, Inc. (Nasdaq:YTEN) (“Yield10” or the “Company”), an agricultural bioscience company, today announced that the harvest of a majority of the winter and spring Camelina sativa ("Camelina”) grain produced
October 03, 2023 Read Full Article
The UAE Holds a Major Oil and Gas Conference Just ahead of Hosting UN Climate Talks in Dubai
by Jon Gambrell (Associated Press) The Emirati president-designate of the upcoming United Nations COP28 climate talks urged oil and gas companies Monday to be “central to the solution” to fighting climate change, a message delivered even as the industry boosts its
October 02, 2023 Read Full Article
Eni, LG Chem Explore Renewable Diesel, SAF Project Development in South Korea
(Eni/Biobased Diesel Daily) South Korea’s leading chemicals producer LG Chem and Italian energy group Eni Sustainable Mobility jointly announced Sept. 14 that they are exploring the possibility to develop and operate a new biorefinery at LG Chem’s Daesan chemical complex, 80
September 19, 2023 Read Full Article
California Wades into Oil Lawsuits
by Arianna Skibell (Politico's Power Switch) California’s lawsuit against some of the world’s largest oil companies could supercharge a yearslong campaign to force the industry to pony up for its role in driving climate change. The state joined a growing number of
September 18, 2023 Read Full Article
Climate-Smart Research for the Farms of the Future Briefing Series: Farm Bill in Focus --- September 12, 2023 --- ONLINE
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing that explores the latest advancements in agricultural research, technology, and practices. As climate change continues to trigger extreme weather of increasing frequency and severity, farmers and ranchers are looking for
August 31, 2023 Read Full Article
Camelina’s Hour Syngenta, Sustainable Oils Hook-up
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) From Illinois comes news that Syngenta Seeds and Sustainable Oils have inked a deal to sell Camelina seed – an ultra-low carbon oilseed crop that can be used as feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel and renewable
August 29, 2023 Read Full Article
Bill Increases Support for Sustainable Aviation Fuel
by Joshua Baethge (Farm Progress) Crocket, Miller co-sponsoring Farm to Fuselage Act -- Reps. Jasmine Crockett, D- Texas, and Max Millier, R- Ohio, filed a bill on Friday to increase federal support for sustainable aviation fuel. The Farm to Fuselage Act aims to
August 23, 2023 Read Full Article
Farmers Need Incentives to Overcome Risks of Adopting Climate-Smart Agriculture Practices
(Solutions from the Lane) Change is not easy, especially when it involves financial risk. That’s the situation farmers and ranchers find themselves in when considering innovative, climate-smart agricultural practices. Sure, in the long run, many farmers find that adopting practices like
August 22, 2023 Read Full Article
EPA Is Ignoring the Glaring Problem with Dirty Electric Vehicles
by Benjamin Zycher (American Enterprise Institute/The Hill) The Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) has launched a new regulatory effort to force a massive transportation shift to electric vehicles (EVs) with its proposed “multi-pollutant emissions standards” for light- and medium-duty vehicles beginning with model
August 08, 2023 Read Full Article
Report: Strong Clean Vehicle Standards Can Deliver $44 Billion in Health, Economic and Climate Benefits to New Mexicans
(Natural Resources Defense Council) New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham recently announced bold action which will give New Mexicans more electric car and truck options in the coming years, and a new report shows the state can deliver the most health,
July 24, 2023 Read Full Article
USDA Helps Agricultural Producers Meet Demand for Camelina
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that it will expand insurance for camelina in direct response to the anticipated increase in demand for the crop for biofuel production. The USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) is expanding
July 12, 2023 Read Full Article
Cyanobacteria in Sustainable Agriculture
by Randy Simpson (Lee Enterprises Consulting/Biofuels Digest) Cyanobacteria are a group of photosynthetic bacteria that can live in diverse environments, such as soil, water, and rocks. Handled properly, they can have several beneficial effects on crop growth, including helping control plant
June 27, 2023 Read Full Article
Transforming Plants into Allies in the Fight against Climate Change
(U.S. Department of Energy/Oak Ridge National Laboratory/EurekAlert!) ... At the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, scientists are leading research to transform plants into key drivers of decarbonization, from creating biomass crops for new fuels to enhancing the ability
June 07, 2023 Read Full Article
NRDC: COVER Act Will Finally Make Cover Crop Benefits Accessible to All Farmers
(Natural Resources Defense Council) A key bicameral bill to incent the use of cover crops across the country was re-introduced today (May 18, 2023). The Conservation Opportunity and Voluntary Environment Resilience (COVER) Program Act, which would provide a $5 per
May 31, 2023 Read Full Article
Biden-Harris Administration Invests $251 Million to Expand Infrastructure to Support CO2 Transport and Storage DEADLINE July 6, 2023
(U.S. Department of Energy) President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda Supports Projects Across Seven States That Will Slash CO2 Emissions, Build High-Quality Jobs, and Deliver Cleaner Air -- As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Department of Energy
May 23, 2023 Read Full Article
New GHG Report Offers Ag a Look at Areas of Improvement, Progress
(Solutions from the Lane) ... The Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks, which has been published by the Environmental Protection Agency annually since 1990, offers a look at how U.S. industries—including agriculture—are doing on their emissions. For agriculture, the latest report,
May 17, 2023 Read Full Article
Evogene Receives Grant to Develop Oilseed Crops with High CO2 Assimilation
by Alex Martin (Seed World) Evogene’s Ag-Seed Division received the EU Horizon grant of €1.2 million euros to support the creation of oilseed crops with high carbon dioxide assimilation and enhanced drought tolerance, according to a release. Evogene will be part of
May 17, 2023 Read Full Article
German Biofuel Industry in Jeopardy, and So Is Feed Production
(All about Feed) Germany mulls phasing out crop-based bioethanol production in the coming decade chasing a declared goal to fortify European and world’s food security. However, as market players reveal, the effect of the widely discussed reform is likely to be
May 17, 2023 Read Full Article
Makueni’s Castor Beans Feeding Italian Biofuel Firm
by Pius Maundu (Nation Media Group) Castor beans are the raw material for jet fuel; Its production nosedived over the years due to the vagaries of climate change and lack of a steady market -- As a little girl growing
May 17, 2023 Read Full Article
EBP Goal. India Eyes Sugarcane Model to Raise Maize Output to Meet 20% Ethanol Blending Target
by Prabhudatta Mishra (The Hindu Business Line) The area under sugarcane has to increase, and the subsidised rice offered by FCI is not sustainable, says Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra -- The Indian government may have to develop a sugarcane-type ecosystem
May 04, 2023 Read Full Article
Briefing Series: Farm Bill 2023 in Focus --- Select Wednesdays to June 21, 2023 --- ONLINE and Washington, DC
The Process and Path Forward for Passing a Bipartisan Farm Bill Wednesday, April 26 2:00 - 3:30 PM EDT The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing on what you need to know about this year’s Farm Bill, including key bipartisan opportunities
April 18, 2023 Read Full Article
Midwest CO2 Pipelines Push ahead as Bills Fizzle
by Jeffrey Tomich, Carlos Anchondo, Mike Soraghan (E&E News Energywire) Companies planning carbon capture projects in the Midwest are defeating legislative proposals to add regulations or block them, increasing the likelihood that a sprawling network of planned pipelines to transport the
April 13, 2023 Read Full Article
New Cane Variety Developed Jointly by TNAU and ICAR Sugarcane Breeding Institute in Coimbatore in High Demand
(The Hindu Bureau) ... Owing to the ethanol policy, the sugar mills are gradually coming out of red, and are able to settle pending dues to the farmers, banking on the most productive varieties of sugarcane. Of the nearly 375 tonnes
April 12, 2023 Read Full Article
Climate Change Preparedness Conference 2023 --- May 18-20, 2023 --- Tysons Corner, Virginia
The Climate Change Preparedness Conference 2023 will take place in Washington, DC this coming May 18-20. The three-day event unites climate experts, governments official and policymakers, community organizer. youth leaders, environmental professionals, and other stakeholders from around the country to
April 07, 2023 Read Full Article
Jatropha: The Biofuel that Bombed Seeks a Path to Redemption
by Sean Mowbray (Mongabay) • Earlier this century, jatropha was hailed as a “miracle” biofuel. An unassuming shrubby tree native to Central America, it was wildly promoted as a high-yielding, drought-tolerant biofuel feedstock that could grow on degraded lands across
April 07, 2023 Read Full Article
The Next Farm Bill Could Be a Historic Climate Law – if Congress Can Agree on It
by Max Graham (Grist) Will the legislation help turn agriculture, a climate problem, into a climate solution? ... But environmental groups and some farmer advocacy organizations are lobbying Congress to turn this year’s bill — due for an update by October —
April 04, 2023 Read Full Article
Farmers Must Be at the Center of New, International Work on Climate Action
(Solutions from the Land) The proposals are in. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change has closed its submission period for recommendations on how to structure the four-year Sharm el-Sheikh joint work on implementation of climate action on agriculture and food
April 03, 2023 Read Full Article
Heard on the Floor at ABLC
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) “We’re out of time”. ... The subject was deployment vs development, whether we should go with what we have as opposed to waiting for better technology to come along. The context was the new report out from IPCC,
March 27, 2023 Read Full Article
Yield10 Bioscience and American Airlines Sign MOU to Form a Collaboration to Develop the Value Chain for Camelina as a Feedstock Oil for Sustainable Aviation Fuel
(Yield10) Yield10 Bioscience, Inc. (NASDAQ: YTEN) (“Yield10” or the “Company”), an agricultural bioscience company, today announced that it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with American Airlines, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAL) on February 27, 2023 to collaborate in developing the value chain for Camelina as a low-carbon feedstock
March 02, 2023 Read Full Article
Charting a Course through Turbulent Times in Latin America
(Biofuels International) Assessing this year’s prospects for biofuels in South America is about much more than just what is happening in Brazil. As a starting point, however, it’s difficult to move pass the country’s recent change of government and subsequent upheaval
February 24, 2023 Read Full Article
The 2023 Farm Bill Should Be a Climate Bill, Democrats Say
by Maxine Joselow (Washington Post) These House Democrats want the farm bill to be a ‘huge climate win' -- ... Rather, the farm bill — the five-year reauthorization of hundreds of billions of dollars in agriculture and food programs —
February 16, 2023 Read Full Article
Yield10 Bioscience Announces 2023 Camelina Contract Production Opportunity for Farmers in Targeted Regions of U.S. and Canada
(Yield10/Ag NewsWire) Yield10 Bioscience, Inc., an agricultural bioscience company, today announced its 2023 enrollment program for contract production of Camelina. Yield10 is offering contracts for both spring and winter varieties of Camelina to farmers located in Western Canada (Alberta, Saskatchewan and
February 14, 2023 Read Full Article
DOE Funds Bioenergy Carbon Capture Projects
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. Department of Energy on Jan. 30 awarded $131 million for 33 carbon management projects. At least four of the funded projects specifically address carbon capture related to bioenergy and biofuels. The DOE awarded more
February 14, 2023 Read Full Article
Warning about Aquifer’s Decline Sets up Big Fight in Kansas
by John Hanna (Associated Press) Kansas water experts are sounding an alarm decades in the making: Farmers and ranchers in the state’s western half must stop pumping more water out of a vast aquifer than nature puts back each year or
January 10, 2023 Read Full Article
ACE Submits Comments to USDA on Climate-Smart Farming Practices
( American Coalition for Ethanol /Ethanol Producer Magazine) The American Coalition for Ethanol submitted feedback to the USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service request for public input on implementation of funding in the Inflation Reduction Act for key NRCS conservation programs to
December 30, 2022 Read Full Article
Purdue University Study Shows Soybean Oil for Biofuels Has Limited Impact on Overall Food Prices
(Soy Hopper/United Soybean Board) While greater biofuel demand contributes to rising price of soy oil-based foods, increased availability of soy meal drives down cost of animal proteins, offsetting Consumer Price Index. -- Whether buying Christmas presents, purchasing a new car or
December 22, 2022 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to Global Clean Energy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Global Clean Energy is a vertically integrated renewable fuels innovator producing ultra-low carbon renewable fuels from patented nonfood camelina varieties. Our farm-to-fuel business model is designed to allow greater efficiencies, lowering our finished fuels’ carbon
December 21, 2022 Read Full Article
India's Sugarcane-Based Ethanol Plan Has a Big Problem: Water
bySupriya Vohra (Quartz) While India is making a push for ethanol-blended petrol, by incentivizing sugarcane-derived ethanol, concerns remain about the water-guzzling nature of the sugarcane and fair remuneration for farmers. On Nov. 2, the center, as part of its ethanol blending programme
December 19, 2022 Read Full Article
Cover Crop Bill Could Turn Over a New Leaf in Sustainable Agriculture
by Elina Lingappa and Savannah Bertrand (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) In July 2022, Representative Sean Casten (D-Ill.) introduced the Conservation Opportunity and Voluntary Environment Resilience Program (COVER) Act (H.R.8527) to increase the adoption of cover crops. Cover crops are not harvested for sale or consumption, but
December 07, 2022 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to Hexas Biomass
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Hexas is a biomaterials company focused on the production of regenerative, plant-based raw materials that replace wood and fossil fuel-based materials in multiple applications. Applications for these plant-based materials include: energy, chemicals, packaging, textiles, composites, structural/non-structural
December 05, 2022 Read Full Article
Challenging Times for Biofuel Firms in South America
(Biofuels International) Slowing growth forecasts for South American economies look set to present a sustained challenge to biofuel investors and developers in the region, not least in Brazil where a weakening of Government resolve on biodiesel blending rates has angered
December 02, 2022 Read Full Article
Is There a Profitable Approach to Carbon Capture and Storage?
(Climte Now) with George Peridas, Jonathan Kusel, and Joshuah Stolaroff -- In the international carbon offset market, the average price of removing one tonne of CO2 from the atmosphere is still below $15 USD, nowhere near enough to cover the costs
November 22, 2022 Read Full Article
Challenging Times for Biofuel Firms in South America
(Biofuels International) Slowing growth forecasts for South American economies look set to present a sustained challenge to biofuel investors and developers in the region, not least in Brazil where a weakening of Government resolve on biodiesel blending rates has angered
November 21, 2022 Read Full Article
A Battle Is Brewing over Biden's Agriculture-Focused Climate Agenda
by Meredith Lee Hill (Politico Pro) A likely Republican takeover of the House and possibly the Senate is threatening Biden’s agriculture-focused climate agenda he plans to tout at COP27. -- President Joe Biden will take to the stage on Friday at
November 11, 2022 Read Full Article
Farmer Delegates to Share Perspectives on Carbon Sequestration, Renewable Fuels at UN Meeting in Livestreamed Event
(Solutions from the Land) Farmers with Solutions from the Land will share their experiences with reducing carbon and greenhouse gas emissions through agriculture during a side event at the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27). The live event, “Agriculture’s Role in Decarbonizing
November 09, 2022 Read Full Article
$2.6M DOE Grant Supports UMD-led Study on Genetics of Plant Growth for Biofuels
by Kimbra Cutlip (University of Maryland/Maryland Today) A University of Maryland researcher was awarded $2.6 million by the U.S. Department of Energy to investigate the genetics underlying how poplar trees sense nutrients and regulate their metabolism—information that could help farmers
October 05, 2022 Read Full Article
New Catalyst Offers a More Affordable Way to Produce Hydrogen from Seawater
by Jeannie Kever (University of Houston) Researchers Discover a Single Catalyst Capable of Splitting Both Freshwater and Seawater at Low Voltage -- Hydrogen has drawn attention in recent years as a potential source of clean energy because it burns without producing
September 28, 2022 Read Full Article
As Farmers Split from the GOP on Climate Change, They're Getting Billions to Fight It
by Scott Neuman (NPR) ... The government's conservation programs are meant to bolster farmers' response to climate change, as (Iowa farmer Robb) Ewoldt and others like him are forced to confront worsening droughts on the one hand, and unprecedented rainfall and
September 21, 2022 Read Full Article
Pretreating Soil with Ethanol Protects Plants from Drought
(RIKEN/Phys.Org) Ethanol can help plants survive in times of drought says a new study conducted at the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science in Japan. Led by Motoaki Seki, researchers show that adding ethanol to soil allows plants, including rice
August 26, 2022 Read Full Article
Cattle Farmers Say Gulf of Carpentaria Could Become 'Food Bowl to Asia' after First Sorghum Crop Harvested
by Lucy Cooper and Larissa Waterson (ABC North West Queensland) ... For the first time in the region's history, Mr Camp (Burke Shire Mayor Ernie Camp) has harvested 2,500 hectares of top-grade sorghum — a drought-resistant grain commonly used in cereal,
August 26, 2022 Read Full Article
It’s Time to Invest in Climate Adaptation
by Ravi Chidambaram and Parag Khanna (Harvard Business Review) Currently, climate adaptation initiatives — that is, those that help people, animals, and plants to survive despite rising climate volatility rather than trying to reverse it — receive only 7% of climate-related
August 19, 2022 Read Full Article
Sustainable Oils to Develop Camelina Varieties via Gene Editing
(Sustainable Oils/Biomass Magazine) Sustainable Oils Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Global Clean Energy Holdings Inc., an ultra-low carbon renewable fuel company that will use nonfood camelina as their primary fuel source material, on Aug. 8 announced a joint licensing agreement
August 10, 2022 Read Full Article
‘Diesel Nut’ Development Brings Texas A&M AgriLife, Chevron Together
(AgriLife Today) Collaboration will utilize peanuts to potentially develop feedstock for lower-carbon fuel production -- Peanut oil powered the world’s first diesel engine when it was premiered by Rudolf Diesel at the World Exposition in Paris in 1900. Now, a
July 20, 2022 Read Full Article
Biden-Harris Administration Launches $2.6 Billion Funding Programs to Slash Carbon Emissions
(U.S. Department of Energy) Two Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Programs Will Decarbonize Power Generation and Heavy Industries, Create Regional Transport Networks for Captured CO2 Emissions -- The Biden-Harris Administration, through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), today issued Notices of Intent to
July 15, 2022 Read Full Article
BSBios to Build Brazil's First Big Wheat Ethanol Plant as Crop Expands
by Ana Mano (Reuters) Brazil's largest biofuel producer BSBios will build the country's first big facility that uses wheat to make ethanol, which will increase, not diminish, food supplies, its chief executive said, amid a global discussion on prioritizing food
July 15, 2022 Read Full Article
"EVs Aren't the Only Answer": Toyota Scientist on the Future of Cars: Gill Pratt, CEO of the Toyota Research Institute, Fears Hype rather than Science Is Rushing Us into a Battery-Only Future
by Jim Holder (AutoCar) ... Today his (Gill Pratt's) job titles at Toyota include chief scientist, executive fellow for research and CEO of the Toyota Research Institute; his past includes stints as a robotics and computing lead for the US Defense
July 12, 2022 Read Full Article
Study Points to Armenian Origins of Ancient Crop with Aviation Biofuel Potential
by Talia Ogliore (Washington University in St. Louis/Phys.Org) Camelina, also known as false flax or Gold-of-Pleasure, is an ancient oilseed crop with emerging applications in the production of sustainable, low-input biofuels. Multidisciplinary research from Washington University in St. Louis is revealing the
July 06, 2022 Read Full Article
Enchanted Rock to Develop California’s Largest Renewable Microgrid to Ensure Resiliency of Microsoft Data Center
(Enchanted Rock) The project will be fully supported by renewable natural gas and will reduce local emissions by up to 96% compared to alternatives. -- Enchanted Rock, a leading provider of electrical resiliency-as-a-service, today announced that it has been contracted by
June 16, 2022 Read Full Article
Inside Charm Industrial’s Big Bet on Corn Stalks for Carbon Removal
by James Temple (MIT Technology Review) The startup used plant matter and bio-oil to sequester thousands of tons of carbon. The question now is how reliable, scalable, and economical this approach will prove. In recent weeks, a crew of staffers from
June 09, 2022 Read Full Article
Biden-Harris Administration Announces Over $2.3 Billion Investment to Cut U.S. Carbon Pollution
(U.S. Department of Energy) DOE Launches $2.25B Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Effort to Increase CO2 Storage Sites, Provides Additional $91M to Advance Carbon Management Approaches, Building Next Generation Industries -- The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today (May 5, 2022) announced
May 06, 2022 Read Full Article
Will Indonesia's Ban on Palm Oil Exports Derail Renewable Diesel Growth in the U.S.?
by Tyne Morgan (AgWeb) Soybean oil prices hit nearly limit up in overnight trading after Indonesia announced it will effectively ban palm oil exports as of April 28 due to soaring domestic prices. While no timeline was given on the announced export
April 25, 2022 Read Full Article
Biofuels Industry Tackles COVID-19, War Challenges
by Susan Reidy (WorldGrain.com) Just as the global biofuels industry was regaining ground from a severe drop in production caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is now facing new struggles with rising feedstock prices caused in part by Russia’s invasion of
April 21, 2022 Read Full Article
Planting Trees on Marginal Cropping Country in WA to Produce Biofuel
by Chris McLennan (Farm Online National) Qantas has already started using biofuels in its fleet but wants an Australian industry to develop from trees grown on marginal farming land in the west. -- Three big corporate companies have formed an unusual alliance
March 31, 2022 Read Full Article
Regan Thanks Ag Community, Releases Topics for FRRCC Evaluation
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) U.S. EPA Administrator Michael Regan on March 22 issued a statement in support of National Agriculture Day thanking farmers for their work to produce food, feed, fuel and fiber. Regan also discussed the importance of the
March 24, 2022 Read Full Article
Scientists Are Creating Homegrown Biofuels in the Peoria Ag Lab
by Jonathan Wright (WCBU) ... Butanol production is among the world’s oldest commercial fermentation processes, discovered by Louis Pasteur in 1861. Between the first and second World Wars, there were two bio-butanol plants in the United States—and the largest was right here
March 18, 2022 Read Full Article
SEC Plans to Force Public Companies to Disclose Greenhouse Gas Emissions Public Comment DEADLINE: June 17, 2022
by Douglas MacMillan and Maxine Joselow (Washington Post) From Coca-Cola to Tesla, companies report emissions in widely different ways. A new federal rule is expected to standardize climate disclosures, putting the U.S. on closer footing with other countries. -- The
March 17, 2022 Read Full Article
Science Says Thinned Forests Are Healthy Forests
(U.S. Forest Service/Biomass Magazine) Overgrown forests are one of the key contributing factors to the current wildfire crisis in the West. The new Forest Service strategy on Confronting the Wildfire Crisis outlines the agency’s plan for increasing fuels and forest health treatments to create healthier
March 16, 2022 Read Full Article
Soil Carbon Moonshot: Grounding Carbon Storage in Science
by Cristel Zoebisch (Carbon 180) One giant leap for soil carbon - Farmers and ranchers play a central role in the health of our climate and planet. Today, they face more and more pressure from climate change, and one solution — soil
March 04, 2022 Read Full Article
Sorghum: A Sweet Proposition for Sustainable Biofuel
(U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service) Sweet sorghum is best known for the amber-colored syrup that's made from its juices. Now, this hardy member of the grass family could also be tapped as a "home-grown" resource for making a renewable
February 15, 2022 Read Full Article
Seeds of Beauty Leaf Tree Examined as Source of Low-Emissions Biodiesel
by Jasmine Hines (ABC Capricornia) The native beauty leaf tree could be grown in large-scale plantations on marginal land for biofuel; Researcher Nanjappa Ashwath says the trees could produce 4,000 litres of biofuel per hectare each year; The bioenergy sector
January 12, 2022 Read Full Article
Off-Season 'Cover' Crops Expand as U.S. Growers Eye Low-Carbon Future
by Karl Plume (Reuters) ... The purpose of cover crops is to restore soil, reduce erosion and to pull climate-warming carbon from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. The carbon trapped in roots and other plant matter left in the soil is measured
January 04, 2022 Read Full Article
Biochar in the Woods --- January 27 and February 1-3, 2022
BIOCHAR HELPS FORESTS GROW AND STORE MORE CARBON Given the ongoing drought and dangerous wildfire conditions throughout the west, USBI sees an urgent need to train more people on clean techniques to convert problem forest vegetation into biochar onsite for climate
January 04, 2022 Read Full Article
Renewables 2021: Analysis and Forecast to 2026
(International Energy Agency) Renewables 2021 is the IEA’s primary analysis on the sector, based on current policies and market developments. It forecasts the deployment of renewable energy technologies in electricity, transport and heat to 2026 while also exploring key challenges
December 31, 2021 Read Full Article
Two Birds with One Stone: A Combined Environmental and Economic Performance Assessment of Rapeseed-Based Biodiesel Production
by Xueqing Yang,Yang Liu, Alberto Bezama, Daniela Thrän (GCB-Bioenergy) Rapeseed is the dominant feedstock for biodiesel production in Germany; however, significant decline in crop yields observed during the 2018 drought in Europe poses economic and environmental risks for its sustained
December 30, 2021 Read Full Article
Bioenergy: Friendly Fungi Boost Growth for Biofuel Source
(SciTechDaily/Oak Ridge National Laboratory) An Oak Ridge National Laboratory team has successfully introduced a poplar gene into switchgrass, an important biofuel source, that allows switchgrass to interact with a beneficial fungus, ultimately boosting the grass’ growth and viability in changing environments. Scientists
December 18, 2021 Read Full Article
USDA to Launch Climate-Smart Ag and Forestry Partnership Initiative
(Solutions from the Land) To develop climate solutions that strengthen rural America, USDA is partnering with agriculture and forestry interests, as well as with rural communities, to finance the deployment of climate-smart farming and forestry practices to aid in the marketing
November 19, 2021 Read Full Article
EIA Analysis Projects Carbon Fees Would Decrease U.S. Carbon Dioxide Emissions through 2050
(U.S. Energy Information Administration) Carbon fees as high as $35 per metric ton could decrease U.S. energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by as much as 19% compared to 2020 levels, according to analysis from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). In
November 18, 2021 Read Full Article
Garamendi Introduces Bill Requiring EPA to Process eRIN Pathways
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Rep. John Garamendi, D-Calif., on Nov. 5 introduced the Biomass and Biogas for Electric Vehicles Act, which aims to require the U.S. EPA to process long-delayed Renewable Fuel Standard pathway applications to generate eRINs, allowing
November 10, 2021 Read Full Article
Ethanol Industry Mission Offers Fuel Market Support in Brazil
(U.S. Grains Council/Ethanol Producer Magazine) A delegation from the U.S. ethanol industry recently met with Brazilian government and private sector officials to learn more about the current dynamics of the Brazilian fuel market and its ethanol production and to offer support
November 09, 2021 Read Full Article
WA Farmers Enjoy Canola Fields of Gold
by Gregor Heard and Shannon Beattie (Farm Weekly) ... Australian Oilseeds Federation (AOF) executive officer Nick Goddard said the current prices smashed previous highs out of the water. ... The good news extends beyond the farmgate, with Mr Goddard saying crushers, even
October 18, 2021 Read Full Article
USDA Requests Public Input on New Climate-Smart Agriculture Initiative DEADLINE November 1, 2021
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that it is seeking public comments on a new initiative designed to create revenue streams for agricultural producers through market opportunities for commodities produced using climate-smart practices. “Through extreme
October 08, 2021 Read Full Article
USDA Announces More Than $146M Investment in Sustainable Agricultural Research
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today an investment of more than $146 million in sustainable agricultural research projects aimed at improving a robust, resilient, climate-smart food and agricultural system. This investment is made under
October 07, 2021 Read Full Article
Western Ethanol Producers ‘Caught in the Jaws of a Vise’ with Short Corn Supply and Weak Biofuel Demand
by Mikkel Pates (Park Rapids Enterprise) Gerald Bachmeier, chief executive officer of Red Trail Energy, Richardton, North Dakota, and Philip Coffin, vice president of Midwest AgEnergy LLC, at Underwood, North Dakota, discuss countermoves to a drought for acquiring local corn
October 05, 2021 Read Full Article
The Voice of Conservatives Is Important in Renewable Energy Policy Discussions
(Solutions from the Land) ... Those who advocate for no- and low-carbon fuels and other energy solutions come from across political parties – Democrats and Republicans – and from all along the spectrum of partisan views – from liberals to conservatives. The
October 02, 2021 Read Full Article
USDA Aims at Ag Woes in $3B Package: USDA Announces Funds for African Swine Fever, Drought, Climate Program
by Todd Neeley (DTN Progressive Farmer) ... The agency announced on Wednesday plans to tap funds from the Commodity Credit Corp. as part of what USDA calls a "comprehensive investment package." The $3 billion package is aimed at supporting drought resilience and
September 30, 2021 Read Full Article
USDA Investing $75 million in Partner-Led Projects with Focus on Climate-Smart Ag, Equity in Program Delivery
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest nearly $75 million for 15 partner-led projects to address natural resource concerns on private lands. This year, projects funded by the Regional Conservation Partnership Program’s (RCPP) Alternative Funding Arrangements
September 27, 2021 Read Full Article
Salk Plant Researchers Launch Collaboration to Breed Carbon-Capturing Sorghum
(Salk Institute) Salk will team up with experts at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center to study the genetics of sorghum -- Researchers at the Salk Institute’s Harnessing Plants Initiative (HPI) have established a five-year, $6.2 million collaboration with Nadia Shakoor, principal investigator
September 17, 2021 Read Full Article
Ag Outlook Forum --- September 20, 2021 --- Kansas City, MO and ONLINE
With skyrocketing commodity prices, drought conditions spreading across many parts of the country and export markets booming, there is a lot of concern about U.S. farmers being able to produce anything close to “normal” yields. At the same time, the
September 16, 2021 Read Full Article
Plant Biologist Turns to TikTok to Show Kids Science in Action
by Lela Nargi (Washington Post) Katie Murphy is a plant biologist. She researches corn and tobacco plants at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, Missouri. She’s also the host of “Real Time Science,” a series of videos that she
September 15, 2021 Read Full Article
Van Hollen Leads Senate Democrats in Announcing New Legislation to Make Polluters Pay for Climate Damage
(Office of Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)) U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) – joined by Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) – announced new legislation to require the biggest
September 10, 2021 Read Full Article
Sorghum Industry Partners with University of California to Advance Sorghum
(United Sorghum Checkoff Program) The United Sorghum Checkoff Program (USCP), the University of California, Merced, and the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources today announced a five year partnership to promote drought resilience in sorghum and increase demand
August 20, 2021 Read Full Article
Spotlight: Brazil Sugarcane Harvest Failure Hampers Biofuels Growth, Raises Refinery Runs
(S&P Global) Weather disruptions reduce sugarcane harvest in CS Brazil to 10-year low, ethanol output to 4-year low S&P Global Platts ethanol price assessment reaches new record high despite peak of the crop Reduced E100 demand increases the call on gasoline Raizen, Brazil's
August 19, 2021 Read Full Article
AR6 Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis
(Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)) The Working Group I contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report addresses the most up-to-date physical understanding of the climate system and climate change, bringing together the latest advances in climate science, and combining multiple lines
August 12, 2021 Read Full Article
Renewable Diesel Project Developer GCEH Provides Preliminary Q2 Financials, Camelina Update
by Ron Kotrba (Biobased Diesel Daily) Global Clean Energy Holdings Inc., the project developer retrofitting a petroleum refinery in Bakersfield, California, into a renewable diesel plant scaled at 230 million gallons a year, provided preliminary financials for the second quarter
August 03, 2021 Read Full Article
A ‘Sea Tractor’ Harvests and Replants Carbon-Capturing Seaweed at This Floating Farm Seaweed Farming Could Be a Potent Weapon in the Fight against Climate Change. But Can It scale?
by Adele Peters (Fast Company) In a series of floating seaweed farms off the coast of Bali, Indonesia, a catamaran travels back and forth through lines of dangling red algae. Custom technology on board automatically harvests and replants the seaweed,
August 02, 2021 Read Full Article
Latest State Greenhouse Gas Inventory Shows Emissions Continue to Drop below 2020 Target
(California Air Resources Board) Transportation emissions fall for second year in a row, electricity emissions down again -- The California Air Resources Board today released greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory data for 2019, showing further reductions below the AB 32 emissions reduction
August 02, 2021 Read Full Article
The Sky’s the Limit for South Africa’s Sugar Industry if It Finds the Aviation Biofuels Sweet Spot
by Andrew Russell (Daily Maverick) ... All these moves show that the transition to sustainable aviation fuels is accelerating quickly. As the sector takes off, the only question is whether South Africa will ride the trend on the way up. The South
August 02, 2021 Read Full Article
Harder Introduces Landmark Legislation to Help Farmers Lead on Climate Change
(Office of Representative Josh Harder (R-CA 10th) Bill will establish billions in new initiatives to support the efforts of the agriculture industry in leading the way on climate -- Representative Josh Harder (CA-10) reintroduced his Future of Agricultural Resiliency and Modernization (FARM)
August 02, 2021 Read Full Article
New Cutting Edge Facility in Southern Alberta to Create Jobs, Cut Emissions by Creating Biofuel from Waste
by Austin Lee (CTV News) The Alberta government is supporting Canary Biofuels, an Alberta-based biofuel producer, with a $4.7M grant through the province's Technology Innovation and Emissions Reductions (TIER) fund. In total, the facility in Lethbridge County will cost $28.6M and will
July 28, 2021 Read Full Article
Why Brazil Is Expected to See a Corn Ethanol Boom
(BN Americas) Brazil’s corn ethanol production is expected to triple by 2030, according to Beatriz Pupo (pictured, left), biofuel senior analyst of S&P Global Platts Analytics. The projected growth reflects the stagnation of the availability of sugarcane as raw material for ethanol
July 20, 2021 Read Full Article
A ‘Sea Tractor’ Harvests and Replants Carbon-Capturing Seaweed at This Floating Farm
by Adele Peters (Fast Company) Seaweed farming could be a potent weapon in the fight against climate change. But can it scale? -- In a series of floating seaweed farms off the coast of Bali, Indonesia, a catamaran travels back
July 14, 2021 Read Full Article
Weather-Resistant Crops: the Bioenergy Fuel of the Future
(Bio Market Insights) ... Finding a way to increase crop yields without encroaching on either food crops or natural habitats is a novel challenge, but it is one that may soon have a solution. Researchers from Queensland University of Technology’s Centre
July 07, 2021 Read Full Article
Groundbreaking New Partnership Will Use Blockchain Technology to Record, View and Measure the Growth of 50 Million Pongamia Trees
(Investancia) Blockchain will track 50 million trees through Investancia and EcoMatcher Partnership --- Groundbreaking new partnership will use blockchain technology to record, view and measure the growth of 50 million pongamia trees to be planted in the Paraguayan Chaco forest
June 15, 2021 Read Full Article
Single Gene Boosts Climate Resilience, Yield and Carbon Capture in Crops
(Oak Ridge National Laboratory) Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have discovered a single gene that simultaneously boosts plant growth and tolerance for stresses such as drought and salt, all while tackling the root cause of climate change by enabling plants
June 11, 2021 Read Full Article
'It's the Future': Big Biodiesel Investments Keep Sask. an Energy Powerhouse
by Arthur White-Crummey (Regina Leader-Post) Biodiesel is pushing up canola prices and driving massive investment in Saskatchewan, as farmers and business cash in on a new oil boom. -- A sudden rush of canola crush investments could add billions to Saskatchewan’s
June 01, 2021 Read Full Article
Schneider Introduces Bill to Decarbonize Aviation, Fulfill Climate Commitments
(Office of Congressman Brad Schneider (D-IL-10)) Sustainable Skies Act would boost incentives to use Sustainable Aviation Fuel which cuts aviation emissions by 50% or more -- Today, Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) introduced the Sustainable Skies Act, new legislation to fight carbon emissions
May 20, 2021 Read Full Article
American Drivers Are Saving the Corn Ethanol Industry–for Now
by Tim McDonnell (Quartz) ... A year later, American drivers are back at the gas pump, and ethanol plants are back online. ADM re-opened its plants in early April; POET’s plants re-opened in August 2020 but only hit full production capacity in April. Then, just as
May 06, 2021 Read Full Article
Soil Carbon Sequestration: A Systems Perspective --- May 18, 2021 --- ONLINE
Modern science is in agreement with thousands of years of indigenous farming to state that carbon is a critical component of healthy soil, supporting all of life. In fact there is 2 to 3 times more carbon in the soil
May 03, 2021 Read Full Article
Google Unveils 37 Year Time-lapse of Earth’s Surface, Reveals Melting Glaciers, Deforestation
by Amy Lupica (Our Daily Planet) In time for Earth Day, last week Google unveiled Google Earth Timelapse, allowing users to see zoomable videos documenting how the Earth has changed since 1984. Through the eyes of a satellite, users can view sobering and
April 19, 2021 Read Full Article
Showcase Bioeconomy: Industrial Plants Make Unproductive Arable Land Profitable
(University of Hohenheim (Google translation)) European project with the participation of the University of Hohenheim researches how unprofitable fields with renewable raw materials can be used sustainably and with added value -- Unused potential: Around 65 million hectares of agricultural land
April 12, 2021 Read Full Article
Earth Day Series Day 8: The International Regime on Climate Change
by Nathália Fernandes Pimentel* (Advanced Biofuels USA) International Regime before the Paris Agreement -- On 21st March 1994, The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change entered into force with the ratification of the document by 197 countries. The main goal of
April 08, 2021 Read Full Article
‘Keep off the Grass’: The Biofuel that Could Help Us Achieve Net Zero
(Earlham Institute) Some grasses are a sustainable energy source that could be a driving force towards achieving net zero carbon emissions, according to new research that demonstrates their resilience to harsh growing environments. -- The Miscanthus genus of grasses, commonly used
April 05, 2021 Read Full Article
Banks Poured $3.8B into Fossil Fuel Companies since Paris Agreement
by Natasha Lasky (Our Daily Planet) A new report, published Wednesday found that the world’s largest commercial and investment banks have altogether put $3.8 trillion into fossil fuels from 2016 to 2020. This report — a collaboration between the Rainforest Action Network, Bank Track,
March 25, 2021 Read Full Article
Biden Administration Wants the Financial Sector to Face up to Climate Risk
by Steven Mufson and Juliet Eilperin (Washington Post) The Commodity Futures Trading Commission aims to create a new Climate Risk Unit, joining initiatives at Treasury, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Federal Reserve -- A growing number of federal
March 18, 2021 Read Full Article
Looking ahead to Second-Generation Biofuels
by Janet Kubat Willette (Farm Progress) Madhu Khanna, distinguished professor of environmental economics at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, says that CRP acres have the potential to produce harvestable bioenergy crops. Speaking at a Council on Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics webinar earlier this
March 11, 2021 Read Full Article
Researchers Eye Cactus as a Drought-Tolerant Crop for Biofuel and More
by Shane McGlaun (Slash Gear) ... Researchers from the University of Nevada have been researching drought-tolerant crops that could be used for biofuel, sustainable foods, and forage crops. The team specifically looked at cactus called Opuntia ficus-indica because the plant has
March 10, 2021 Read Full Article
Land O'Lakes Sustainability Business Truterra Launches TruCarbon™, the First Farmer-Owned Carbon Program
(Truterra/PR Newswire) TruCarbon Promises Streamlined Experience for Farmers; Novel Approach for Buyers to Incentivize Change at Scale; TruCarbon Launching With Microsoft as First Secured Buyer -- Truterra, LLC, the sustainability business and subsidiary of Land O'Lakes, Inc., one of America's largest farmer-owned cooperatives,
February 04, 2021 Read Full Article
Oil Companies’ Fall from Favor Could Cause Next Price Spike
by James Herron, Grant Smith and Laura Hurst (Bloomberg/LMT Online) There’s plenty of historical precedent for an investment drought, such as that which is occurring among oil majors, leading to a surge in crude prices a few years later. --
February 02, 2021 Read Full Article
Environmental Sustainability of Energy Generation from Forest Biomass
(European Commission Science Hub) A new JRC report on the use of woody biomass for energy production in the EU shows the need to recognise that sustainability of bioenergy remains a complex issue with no one-size-fits-all answers, but that win-win and
January 29, 2021 Read Full Article
Can This Unlikely Duo Revive Rural America and Help the Planet? Joe Biden and Tom Vilsack Plan to Take Swift Action on Climate Change Proposals.
by Art Cullen (Storm Lake Times/New York Times) ... Few took carbon sequestration seriously during his previous tenure, a time when “resilient agriculture” had not yet entered the vernacular. But the fundamental conversation in the corridors of power and along
January 28, 2021 Read Full Article
Planting Crops — and Carbon, Too
by Gabriel Popkin (Washington Post) President Biden says farmers can adopt agricultural methods that help fight climate change. Maryland farmer Trey Hill has been trying. ... As the winter cover crops grow, they will feed microbes and improve the soil’s health, which
January 22, 2021 Read Full Article
House Rules Would Exempt Coronavirus, Climate Bills from Budget Limits
(CQ Roll Call) Changes could paper over differences within House Democratic Caucus between deficit hawks and progressives -- The new rules package for the 117th Congress unveiled by House Democrats on Friday would grant a sweeping new exemption from deficit controls