NCGA Releases Demand Strategy for U.S. Corn’s Next 250 Years

July 04, 2026

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(National Corn Growers Association) The National Corn Growers Association today released a new report outlining a strategy to secure new demand for American corn. As farmers face a projected fourth consecutive year of losses in 2026, NCGA is setting a course toward markets that could collectively unlock demand for billions of additional bushels of corn annually.

The report identifies three new high-growth sectors where NCGA looks to compete:

Maritime Fuels: Securing 10% of the global maritime fuel market fueled by corn-based ethanol would equate to 3 billion bushels of annual new demand.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel: Securing 10% of the global SAF market fueled by ethanol-to-jet technologies would represent 1.7 billion bushels of annual demand.

Biobased Products and Biomanufacturing: Securing 10% of the global biochemical and biobased product market, with corn-based feedstocks capable of replacing the petroleum in 10% of the world's plastics would total 6.6 billion bushels of potential demand.

"U.S. corn farmers are the most productive and innovative farmers in the world, and the crop they grow deserves markets that match their potential," said Jed Bower, Ohio farmer and president of the National Corn Growers Association. "This report is about building the next chapter for corn – not just defending what we have but opening doors to industries that can fuel our energy security, reduce carbon emissions and create lasting demand for America's crop.”

The report comes as U.S. corn farmers produced a record crop of 17 billion bushels in 2025.

A Strategy for New Demand

NCGA has set its sights on capturing 10% of three key markets that are largely untapped for corn growers right now; each market presents significant, long-lasting demand opportunities. With anticipated continued production growth thanks to ongoing advancements in genetics, management practices, and equipment innovations, U.S. corn farmers can meet the moment by providing a consistent, domestically produced, renewable feedstock for each of the target markets.

The maritime sector represents one of the largest untapped opportunities for corn-based ethanol. Early vessel testing has demonstrated that ethanol can operate effectively in methanol-designed engines.

For the aviation industry, ethanol presents one of the most immediately scalable domestic feedstocks for sustainable aviation fuel production.

In biobased products and biomanufacturing, NCGA sees corn as the plant-based solution to replace petroleum-derived chemicals and plastics.

Building on Existing Priorities

The report also reinforces NCGA's ongoing commitment to on-road biofuels and export market growth. Year-round, nationwide access to E15 remains the association's top near-term legislative priority. On trade, NCGA is urging the renewal of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, plus a renewed focus on new market access negotiations.

"Corn is America's crop," Bower said. "And with the right opportunities – in the skies, on the seas, and in the everyday products Americans use – it can be an integral part of America's future."

Specific strategies for advancing corn-grower access to each of these markets can be found in the report.

Read the Report READ MORE

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Excerpt from Western Producrer: Agriculture is at a dangerous crossroads, says the chief executive officer of U.S. Farmers and Ranchers in Action.

“There are some people who think where we are now is very similar to what happened in the 1980s when 300,000 U.S. farmers defaulted on their loans,” Kevin Burkum said during a webinar introducing a new study authored by S&P Global Energy.

“(That) created a rural recession that lasted a generation.”

Kevin Lindemer, a vice-president with S&P, said the key take-home point of the Fueling Agriculture: Biofuels as the Catalyst report is that the world is transitioning into a demand-limited market.

Population growth is slowing. The annual global growth rate is expected to decline to 0.4 per cent by 2050, down from about 1.4 per cent at the start of this century.

Fertility rates in most high-income economies are already below replacement levels.

China’s population has peaked, and the country is expected to lose about 10 million people per year through 2050, said Lindemer.

Slowing global population growth has profound implications for agriculture.

Per capita meat consumption is expected to grow at a rate of 0.1 per cent per year by 2050, down from 2.4 per cent in the late 1990s, indicating near-saturation in many markets.

Meat demand drives growth in feedgrain and oilseed consumption.

That is problematic because corn yields have been increasing at a rate of 1.5 per cent per year for decades.

And there are further increases on the way. The next wave of agricultural productivity will be driven by stacked technologies — the convergence of biotechnology, artificial intelligence and advanced data analytics.

That is expected to lift U.S. corn yields by 1.6 per cent annually through 2050, resulting in 50 per cent more production without expanding acreage.

Lindemer remembers as a kid growing up on a farm in Minnesota when a 125 bushel per acre corn crop was considered good. Today’s yield contest winners are harvesting nearly 600 bu. per acre.

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So where will that demand come from in an environment of slowing global population growth and meat consumption? The hope is that biofuel will provide the answer.

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The authors of the study were asked what would happen if there is no increase in biofuel demand.

Juan Sacoto, global head of agribusiness consulting with S&P, said one of the big takeaways from the study is there’s not enough food demand to support agriculture.

He noted that 10 or 15 years ago, everyone was fretting about whether there would be enough food to feed the world.

Sacoto said that is no longer an issue. The challenge has shifted to, how are you going to keep farmers farming?

If there is no increase in biofuel demand, the United States is going to lose about 30 million acres of corn by 2050. READ MORE

Excerpt from Agri-Pulse: This week's Open Mic guest is Geoff Cooper, President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association. Leaders of the group recently spent a week in Washington lobbying for Senate approval of voluntary E15 legislation. Cooper cites recent studies suggesting strong support for sales of higher ethanol blends among voters from both political parties. He also discusses opportunity for industry growth in the maritime, airline and related liquid transportation fuels arena. Cooper says RFA supports efforts by the Trump administration to balance trade with Brazil. READ MORE; includes AUDIO