by Zachary Oren Smith (Iowa City Press-Citizen) ... Mighty Earth, a program affiliated with left-leaning think tank Center for International Policy, has three paid organizers setting up shop in Iowa City, Des Moines and the Quad-Cities in hopes of getting 2020 candidates to
Biofuel Crops
Back TO HOMECorn Ethanol Production Has Minimal Effect on Cropland Use, Study Shows
by Madhu Khanna (Farms.com) Ethanol production has increased sharply in the United States in the past 10 years, leading to concerns about the expansion of demand for corn resulting in conversion of non-cropland to crop production and the environmental effects of
December 28, 2018 Read Full Article
EU Recognises Importance of Crop-Based Ethanol to Achieving Climate Goals
(ePURE/EurActiv) RED II agreement by negotiators is a step in the right direction, allowing Member States to use sustainable biofuels in fighting climate change -- Negotiators from the European Parliament, Council and Commission agreed early Thursday morning on a new target for
June 15, 2018 Read Full Article
NGOs Tell Commission to Listen to Science and Differentiate Biofuels
by Claire Stam (EurActiv) A coalition of Czech and Slovak NGOs has called on the European Commission to draw a line in the Renewable Energy Directive revision (RED II) between more sustainable ethanol and the high greenhouse gas emitting tropical oils. They also said that
May 09, 2018 Read Full Article
Natural Rubber: Viable Industrial BioEconomy Crop, It’s Going to Be Big
by Katrina Cornish and Corinne Young (re:chem/Bioemergent Materials, The Ohio State University/Biofuels Digest/Lee Enterprises) Bioenergy/biofuel/platform chemical biomasses, whether grown (crops) or collected (forestry waste and municipal wastes of various kinds), still struggle with commercial competitiveness against the low cost, enormous scale, and market
February 07, 2018 Read Full Article
Search for Sustainable Fuels Drives Researchers at UI's New Bioenergy Center
byJulie Wurth (News Gazette) A Midwest crop of the future: grasses and other plants that produce their own oils to be used as fuel or byproducts. That's the vision behind a new bioenergy research center being launched today at the University of
February 01, 2018 Read Full Article
Despite EU Palm Oil Ban, Biofuel Problems Will Continue
(Deutsche Welle) Members of the European Parliament have rejected an attempt to phase out support for crop-based biofuels. So what's next in the food versus fuel debate? -- ... The legislative shift, set to take effect in 2020, won't actually change much
January 24, 2018 Read Full Article
New Study Shows Producers Where and How to Grow Cellulosic Biofuel Crops
(University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences/Science Daily) A new report provides practical agronomic data for five cellulosic feedstocks, which could improve adoption and increase production across the country. -- ... "Early yield estimates were based on data from
January 17, 2018 Read Full Article
The European Parliament Just Avoided a Biofuels Fail. Now Here’s How to Move forward on Decarbonising Transport
(ePure) 2030 EU target for renewables in transport leaves an opening for sustainable crop-based biofuels to help reach Paris goals -- The European Parliament’s vote to phase out palm oil and allow some crop-based biofuels is a welcome recognition that the EU
January 17, 2018 Read Full Article
Alabama Producers Growing Carinata for Biofuel
by Katie Nichols (Alabama Extension Daily) Alabama growers are sowing the seeds of a new biofuel oil crop this winter. Brassica carinata, informally known as carinata, is similar to canola (Brassica napus L.)—a crop many producers introduced to rotations several years ago. An oilseed crop, carinata
January 12, 2018 Read Full Article
Top 10 Bioeconomy Predictions for 2018
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A mere “The Year in Rewind” as we sail into 2018? Not the good ship Digest! Instead, we dust off our crystal ball and offer our predictions for the year ahead. As the sunset of 2017 gives
January 03, 2018 Read Full Article
EU Energy Council Agreement Sends Mixed Messages on Renewables
(The EU Biodiesel Chain) On Dec. 18, the EU Energy Ministers agreed on the Council General Approach for the post-2020 EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED II). The EU Biodiesel Chain welcomes the council decision to increase the minimum share of renewable
December 27, 2017 Read Full Article
Perspectives on Biofuels in Sub-Saharan Africa
by Susan van Dyk, Emile van Zyl, Brett Pletschke (International Energy Agency Bioenergy Task 39) This short contribution provides some perspectives on opportunities for biofuel production on the African continent. Africa has a large land base, with only 27% of its arable
December 22, 2017 Read Full Article
Biofuels Market for Red Tractor Assured Crops Secured for Five Years
by Marianne Curtis (Farmers Guardian) The biofuels market for Red Tractor assured crops has been secured with the news that the European Commission will continue to recognise the scheme under the Renewable Energy Directive, says Red Tractor. Since 2012 compliance with Red Tractor
December 18, 2017 Read Full Article
Researchers Find Bioenergy Crops Provide Critical Ecosystem Services
by M. Cristina Negri (U.S. Department of Energy) Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) in Argonne, Illinois, are examining innovative new agricultural landscapes that incorporate perennial bioenergy crops to provide environmental benefits, such as improved nutrient management and pollinator nesting. This work prioritizes
December 14, 2017 Read Full Article
Can the European Union Afford to Phase Out Conventional Biofuels?
by Michael Eggleston* (Advanced Biofuels USA) On November 7th, 2017, industrial experts, leaders and policy makers alike met for the 20th Annual World Ethanol & Biofuels Conference held in Brussels, Belgium to discuss how the future of de-fossilizing the transport
December 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Fish, Wildlife & Bioenergy: The Digest’s Multi-Slide Guide to Sustainable Impacts on Fish and Wildlife Habitats
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies is working with bioenergy industries and leaders to assist them in the sustainable development of bioenergy that includes our fish and wildlife resources, in the quest towards sustainable bioenergy
December 12, 2017 Read Full Article
Government of Alberta Establishes New Advanced Biofuel Leadership
(Advanced Biofuels Canada/EIN Presswire) Advanced Biofuels Canada applauds government for new funding to support biofuels in Alberta and expand the province’s lower carbon economy. -- The government of Alberta announced today new initiatives to strengthen the biofuels sector in Alberta. The province has
December 06, 2017 Read Full Article
European Parliament Sets Stage for a Battle over Biofuels
(ePURE) Industry Committee vote falls short of what is needed to fix the Commission’s RED II proposal -- The report adopted today by the European Parliament’s Industry, Research and Energy Committee sets the stage for a real clash with EU Member States
November 29, 2017 Read Full Article
Dutch Researchers Create Maps of GHG Emissions from Biofuel Production
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In the Netherlands, a team of scientists charted greenhouse gas emissions resulting from biofuel production, presenting them as global maps. Dedicated crops grown on grasslands, savannahs and abandoned agricultural lands could provide around 30 exajoules per year (i.e.
November 27, 2017 Read Full Article
EU Renewables Directive Sparks Mixed Feelings among Players
(ICIS) ... Charles-Albert Peers, CEO of ethanol producer Alcogroup and chairman of the European trade group for renewable ethanol ePURE, criticised what he called a “U-turn” in EU policy. “RED II removes one of the best options for decarbonising transport. I don’t see how
November 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Biofuels International 2017 Conference in Edinburgh - A Peek into EU’s Biofuel Industry and Policy Outlook
by Aino Siirala* (Advanced Biofuels USA) The 10th Biofuels International Conference and Expo took place in Edinburgh this year. The conference was co-located with Bioenergy Insight 2017 conference which gave the participants an opportunity to attend both events at the
October 16, 2017 Read Full Article
MEP: ‘Sustainable’ Biofuels and E-Mobility Both Needed in Post-2020 EU Transport
by Sarantis Michalopoulos (Euractiv) This article is part of our special report Phasing-out biofuels: What’s really at stake?. If the EU intends to meet its climate obligations under the Paris Agreement, then it should favour both “sustainable” biofuels and electric cars
October 04, 2017 Read Full Article
A Sticky Matter: Sugar Molasses Dent EU’s Ambitions on Advanced Biofuels
by Paola Tamma (EurActiv) Sugar molasses, which the European Commission sees as “advanced” biofuel, present many of the same problems as conventional biofuels – including a potential increase in food prices and land competition for food production. But their definition as biofuels
October 04, 2017 Read Full Article
UK Government Introduces Proposals for Cap on Crop-Based Biofuels
by Liz Gyekye (Biofuels International) The UK government has made proposals to introduce a cap on crop-based biofuels in order to meet its renewable fuel obligations. The maximum level for the use of fuels made from agricultural crops will begin at
September 21, 2017 Read Full Article
UK Department for Transport Announces Biofuel Reforms
(NNFCC Ltd./Biodiesel Magazine) Following years of policy uncertainty and market stagnation, the U.K.’s Department for Transport has announced its intention to raise the target under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation, paving the way for future growth of the U.K. biofuels
September 20, 2017 Read Full Article
Earnings Season: An Advanced Bioecononomy’s Health and Wellness Check-Up
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In today’s Digest, let’s look at trends driving the industry’s results at scale — and while money is not the measure of all progress, it is the ultimate yardstick and especially for companies that have
August 15, 2017 Read Full Article
Winter Is Not Coming: Pushing Back the Frost Wall for More Food, More Fuel, More Money, More Everything
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... So, what do you do about the Frost Wall. Generally, you can grow more with the first harvest — that’s yield improvement. Or, you can grow more in the extreme north — that’s crop expansion.
December 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Shock Rise in Corn Production Leads to Price Plunge
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In grains, the big news has been the USDA prospective plantings report, which has corn up to 93 million acres in 2016, up 5 million over last year, and it was an unexpected gain given
April 04, 2016 Read Full Article
VIDEO: Sustainability in Bioenergy: A Nation Connected
(US Department of Energy) “Sustainability in Bioenergy: A Nation Connected” is a short documentary highlighting personal stories and the efforts being made by communities across the United States to develop, produce, and provide bioenergy, while ensuring it is environmentally, economically,
August 17, 2015 Read Full Article
ARPA-E Awards $30M in High-Risk, High-Reward Moonshot Program to Transform Energy Crops
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Six projects land major multi-year awards for Project TERRA, Tramsportation Energy Resources from Renewable Agriculture In Washington, ARPA-E announced awards totaling $30 million for projects seeking to accelerate the development of sustainable energy crops for the
June 19, 2015 Read Full Article
Expert: Southeast Has Potential to Become ‘Saudi Arabia’ for Biofuels Crop Production
by Blair Fannin (Texas A&M University) Dr. Bill McCutchen sees the potential for the southeast to become the ‘Saudi Arabia’ for production of dedicated energy crops. “It’s the Bioenergy Belt,” said McCutchen, executive associate director of Texas A&M AgriLife Research, at
October 24, 2012 Read Full Article
Rain Dancing on Wall Street, Main Street and Elm Street
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As drought, recession, and capital starvation form a perfect storm, will advanced biofuels be thrown under the bus? Industry leaders say that dropping biofuels production targets will not reverse impacts of the 2012 drought. Instead,
October 23, 2012 Read Full Article
Holst Biofuels Offers Promising Innovations, Savings for Agriculture
by Rudy Kemppainen (Hancock County Journal-Pilot) ...Holst Biofuels, which is an offshoot to its main farming operation, has proved to be a particularly valuable adjunct to the total profit picture, one which can likely be adapted to many area farming operations. “I
August 17, 2010 Read Full Article
Using Plants to Turn Solar Energy Into Useful Products: Framing the Biofuels Debate at the Proper Point on the Technology Curve
…It is difficult to argue with scientific measurements and peer review when they are discussing the first generation technologies, with little relevance of the overall shift towards renewables and greentech that is making all industry more energy efficient, improving water