by Louise Guillot (Politico) The European People’s Party secured a slim majority with right-wing and far-right groups to alter the flagship Green Deal legislation. -- The European People’s Party has drawn fury from centrist and center-left groups after it joined forces with
deforestation
Back TO HOMEGovt Preparing Incentives for Biodiesel Commercialization
(Antara) The government and relevant parties are currently developing financial and incentive policies to support the commercialization of biodiesel, particularly through partnerships between smallholder farmers, independent farmers, and biodiesel producers. Director of bioenergy at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources,
October 26, 2024 Read Full Article
GAPKI Takes Advantage of EUDR Delay to Prepare Smallholders
(Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI)) The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) Chairman Eddy Martono has stated that they will take advantage of the delayed implementation of European Union Deforestation-Free Regulations (EUDR) to improve the ecosystem of palm oil in Indonesia. Addressing the
October 24, 2024 Read Full Article
RFA: Latest Proposal for California LCFS Updates Fundamentally Flawed
(Renewable Fuels Association) Proposed regulations updating California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard are fundamentally flawed and could significantly restrict the future use of low-carbon ethanol in the state, the Renewable Fuels Association noted in comments submitted late Wednesday to the state’s Air Resources Board
October 17, 2024 Read Full Article
Commission Strengthens Support for EU Deforestation Regulation Implementation and Proposes Extra 12 Months of Phasing-in Time, Responding to Calls by Global Partners
(European Commission) The Commission is today (October 1, 2024) publishing additional guidance documents and a stronger international cooperation framework to support global stakeholders, Member States and third countries in their preparations for the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation. Given feedback received from international partners about their
October 10, 2024 Read Full Article
Ag Policy Blog: Reforming Climate Models: Leveling the Playing Field for American Agriculture
by Chris Clayton (DTN Progressive Farmer) Seth Meyer, USDA's chief economist, explained Monday at an agricultural outlook conference in Kansas City, Missouri, that he didn't want to get too deep into the weeds, but he told the audience of agribusiness leaders
September 23, 2024 Read Full Article
Assessing the Environmental Impacts of Brazil's Biofuel Sector
(Springer) Mathematical analysis reveals that within Brazil’s agriculture and livestock industry, the biofuels sector is most heavily reliant on other sectors with high greenhouse gas emissions. -- Brazil is a world leader in biofuel production, but the environmental sustainability of the
September 22, 2024 Read Full Article
Guest Article: The EUDR Is an Opportunity to Progress Data Standards in Agriculture
by Davide Ceper (Varda/Ag Funder News) ... As the European Union (EU) continues to advance its legislative framework, businesses operating within its borders must stay agile and prepared for new regulatory demands. One of the most significant developments on the horizon
September 13, 2024 Read Full Article
The Right Road to Renewable Biofuel in Indonesia
by Hidayatul Mustafidah Rohmawati and Michael Suryaprawira (The Interpreter) Taking directions from big producers in the United States and Brazil. -- Bioethanol, a renewable fuel derived from organic materials, has garnered significant attention as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. In Indonesia, the
August 30, 2024 Read Full Article
Latin America’s Biofuel Revolution: Balancing Growth and Sustainability
(Latin America Post) Latin America’s transition to biofuels is a promising step towards sustainability, yet it faces significant challenges. This feature explores the region’s efforts to develop biofuels, examining historical context, technological advances, and the potential for a greener future. Latin America’s
August 26, 2024 Read Full Article
Indonesia’s Challenge: How to Push Biofuel without Aiding Deforestation
by Simon Tay and Aaron Choo (Straits Times) Can incoming president Prabowo ramp up production of palm oil without clearing more land and raising the risk of fires and haze? -- Many are watching the upcoming leadership transition in Indonesia with the
July 31, 2024 Read Full Article
Farming Is Hip in Brazil, Where a New Generation Is Outpacing the US
by Clarice Couto, Dayanne Sousa and Michael Hirtzer (Bloomberg) Thanks to its cheap labor, year-round harvests and close ties with mega-buyer Beijing, Brazil has rapidly encroached on the US’s long-held position as the world’s top supplier of key crops. Now,
July 26, 2024 Read Full Article
Malaysia Commits to Supplying China with Sustainability-Certified Palm Oil and Related Products
(Malaysia Ministry of Plantation and Commodities) Malaysia is committed to supplying China with Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certified palm oil and palm oil products, said YB Datuk Chan Foong Hin, Deputy Minister of Plantation and Commodities. He added that Malaysia seeks
July 18, 2024 Read Full Article
Pasture-for-Biofuels Can Boost LatAm Output
by Lucas Parolin (Argus Media) Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Guatemala can double their combined biofuel production by turning existing pasture land into crops for biofuel feedstocks, according to a University of Sao Paulo professor. The four countries already produce 24pc of global
May 30, 2024 Read Full Article
Suspicions of Fake China Cooking Oil Alarm US Biofuel Industry
by Kim Chipman, Tarso Veloso, and Michael Hirtzer (Bloomberg) ... One of the biggest concerns is that China shippers are adding UCO to fresh palm oil. Palm, the world’s most widely used vegetable oil, is a bane to environmentalists and many countries
May 08, 2024 Read Full Article
Coruripe Plant Completes International Certification Audit for Aviation Biofuel Production
(Usina Coruripe) Process attested that the Iturama and Limeira do Oeste units, in the Triângulo Mineiro, meet international requirements for the production of sustainable aviation fuel -- This month, Usina Coruripe concluded the external audit process for ISCC Corsia Plus international
March 21, 2024 Read Full Article
Brazil in the G-20 Presidency and the Global Biofuels Alliance
by Jefferson dos Santos Estevo* and Laís Forti Thomaz** (Advanced Biofuels USA) The Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA) was launched in October 2023 during the 18th G-20 Summit in India. That country held the rotating presidency of the group, which consists of 19 countries
March 09, 2024 Read Full Article
WTO Circulates Panel Report on Malaysia’s Biodiesel Policy Complaints against EU
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) ... WTO appellate body says it is extremely difficult to determine the extent of any contribution that is made toward the achievement of the objective(s) of the measures. Much of this difficulty derives from the fact
March 06, 2024 Read Full Article
Petronas Urges EU to Rethink Palm Oil Phaseout, Flags Biofuel Affordability
by Kelly Norways and Simone Burgin (S&P Global) Early palm oil phaseout leaves limited feedstock alternatives: Petronas; Malaysian palm oil exports to Europe down 42% in 2023; Consumer willingness to pay for green fuel a key hurdle: Preem -- Malaysian state-owned oil company
February 29, 2024 Read Full Article
Environmental Protection and Sustainable Food Production in the Cerrado Could Create $72bn for Brazil, Says New Report
(World Economic Forum) - Transforming how land is used in the Cerrado could generate an additional $72 billion a year for Brazil’s economy, a new World Economic Forum report reveals. - Deforestation rates in the Cerrado surged by 43% in 2023
February 28, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Praj Industries and Leveraging Bioeconomy for Sustainable Future
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The eminent danger of climate change, Praj’s Expertise and Readiness for Sustainable Future, opportunities with the Multi-feed and Multi-product Biorefinery Complex, and the Collective Efforts Toward Sustainable Future represented by the new Global Biofuels Alliance. These
February 23, 2024 Read Full Article
Project Presentation – Life Cycle Assessment of the Production of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and Renewable Diesel (RD) from Oil Palm and its Crop Residues in Colombia
(International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) In a collaborative effort funded by the World Bank, ISCC, with the support of its sister companies MEO and GRAS, has been diligently conducting a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and Renewable
February 20, 2024 Read Full Article
Civil Society Groups Call for End to Soy Biofuels
(Transport & Energy) 30 non-profit organisations, including T&E, WWF, Oxfam and Birdlife, call on the European Commission to phase out support for deforestation-driving soy biofuels -- The Commission has one last chance before the European Parliament elections in June to include soybean
February 08, 2024 Read Full Article
EU Parliament’s Environmental Committee Supports Relaxing Rules on Genetically Modified Plants
by Samuel Petrequin (Associated Press) Lawmakers on the European Parliament’s environment committee on Wednesday backed a proposal to relax rules on genetically modified plants produced using so-called new genomic techniques, prompting strong criticism from environmental groups. The issue of genetically modified organisms
January 31, 2024 Read Full Article
How (and Why) to Develop a Credible Deforestation Policy in 2024
by Theresa Lieb (Green Biz) ... The European Union’s Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR) is one of the most significant pieces of legislation for forest protection and will come into full effect by the end of the year. If companies want to continue
January 19, 2024 Read Full Article
Airlines Balk at California's Biofuel Plan; Soybean Sector Weighs Possible Requirements Public Comment DEADLINE February 20, 2024
by Steve Davies (Agri-Pulse) The California Air Resources Board’s proposal to eliminate jet fuel’s existing exemption from regulation under the Low Carbon Fuel Standard is being criticized, for very different reasons, by both the airline industry and SAF proponents. READ MORE Related
January 11, 2024 Read Full Article
EU Is ‘Driving without a Map’ on Biofuels Policy, Auditors Find
by Sean Goulding Carroll (Euractiv.com) The EU’s complex policy approach to biofuels lacks a long-term outlook and risks undermining the bloc’s transport decarbonisation targets, an analysis by the European Court of Auditors (ECA) has found. The ECA, an independent watchdog, examined the EU’s support
December 14, 2023 Read Full Article
Brazilian Biofuels Look for an Opening at COP28
by Nick Ferris (Energy Monitor) Brazil's second-largest ethanol producer is looking to expand its sugarcane and biofuel business by exporting overseas. Nick Ferris reports from COP28 in Dubai. -- ... “There are certainly lots of people interested in talking about biofuels, but I
December 13, 2023 Read Full Article
Monaco, Malaysia Could Explore Using Palm Oil Biofuel in Yachting Industry
Monaco and Malaysia should explore opportunities using palm oil biofuel in the leisure marine industry, said chief executive officer of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Olivier Wenden. This would be in line with the global environmental, sustainability and governance
December 04, 2023 Read Full Article
Biofuels in the Pan Amazon
by Timothy J. Killeen (Mongabay) ... The spikes in commodity prices in the first decade of the twenty-first century coincided with a global boom in biofuels. The interest in biofuels was motivated allegedly by a concern for global warming but other,
November 22, 2023 Read Full Article
Striking the Balance: Catalyzing a Sustainable Land-Use Transition
(McKinsey & Co.) Without a step change in action to increase land-use efficiency, growing demand for food, fuel, and natural capital may require additional land equivalent to the total cropland of Brazil by 2030. Humanity’s appetite for land continues to grow, driven by
November 09, 2023 Read Full Article
Cargill to Offer Only Certified Palm Oil
(Biofuels International) ... Cargill has supplied RSPO-certified palm oil since 2005, and in December 2020, converted its Charlotte, North Carolina refinery to 100% segregated palm oil. With this latest move, by January 2024, all customers buying palm oil from one of
November 09, 2023 Read Full Article
Toyota Chairman Says People Are Finally Seeing the Reality about EVs
by River Davis (Wall Street Journal) Akio Toyoda’s comments come amid cooling U.S. demand and a price war with China -- Toyota Motor Chairman Akio Toyoda, when asked about electric-vehicle challenges including a recent lull in U.S. demand, said the industry was coming to
October 26, 2023 Read Full Article
Biofuels Industry Criticises ‘Inconsistent’ Transport Decarbonisation Policy
by Sean Goulding Carroll (Euractiv.com) New EU rules to green the maritime and aviation sectors prohibit the use of crop-based biofuels on sustainability grounds, though the same fuels play a major role in decarbonising the bloc’s vehicle fleet. This differing approach to
October 25, 2023 Read Full Article
To Tackle Biofuel Fraud, Ireland Takes Matters into Its Own Hands
by Sean Goulding Carroll (EURACTIV) The Irish government has confirmed it will set up a working group to ensure the sustainability of biofuels used in the country, as concerns grow that tainted fuels are entering the EU market. The decision by
October 19, 2023 Read Full Article
Food Is Hot Campaign Issue in Elections from Argentina to Poland
by Agnieszka de Sousa (Bloomberg/Yahoo! Finance) ... The world of trade and climate is watching palm oil, found in everything from peanut butter to shampoo. Indonesia produces more of it than anyone else and it’s been directing more of the commodity into
October 13, 2023 Read Full Article
Utilizing Bagasse Waste to Battle Deforestation
Cornelius Van Tonder (BARA Industrial Plant Consultants/Biomass Magazine) ... Being that it must be cost effective, as most of Malawi is far below the global average poverty line, the solution must outperform in the market with the charred wood product.
October 12, 2023 Read Full Article
Govt Conducts First Biofuel-Powered Flight Test on Commercial Plane
by Yohana Belinda (The Jakarta Post) The government conducted its first flight test for bio-aviation fuel (BAF) on Wednesday (October 5, 2023) using a commercial Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by flag carrier Garuda Indonesia. The BAF used in the test was
October 06, 2023 Read Full Article
Indonesia, Malaysia Push Biofuel to Offset Palm Oil Price Downturn
by Erwida Maulia, Ismi Damayanti and Norman Goh (Nikkei) Falling prices hurt companies; risks loom from El Nino and EU deforestation law -- Weak prices for palm oil, a worsening outlook and a backlash against the commodity over deforestation concerns are
September 30, 2023 Read Full Article
Singapore Supports Use of Palm Oil in Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production
by Janice Lim (Business Times) Palm oil should be included as feedstock for the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), said Acting Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat. He made the comments at a regional meeting of transport ministers from the Association of
September 07, 2023 Read Full Article
EU Starts Probe on Indonesian Biodiesel Avoiding Import Duties
by Sudip Kar-Gupta, Gus Trompiz, Bernadette Christina and Stefanno Sulaiman (Reuters) The European Union said on Thursday it had launched an investigation into whether biodiesel from Indonesia was circumventing EU duties by going through China and Britain. The EU is Indonesia's third-largest destination for palm
August 18, 2023 Read Full Article
The Urgent Need for Ethanol Cooking in Africa
by Douglas L. Faulkner (“The Cleantech Conservative”) and Gerard J. Ostheimer (Clean Energy Ministerial Biofuture Campaign) (Biofuels Digest) We have argued in the Digest that bio-based fuels, chemicals, and materials ought to be a cornerstone of the modern African economy. In
July 12, 2023 Read Full Article
Modern Bioenergy Provides Opportunities for Developing Countries
(IEA Bioenergy) At the online event ’Opportunities of bioenergy and biofuels in developing economies‘, organized on 22 and 23 May by the IEA Bioenergy Technology Collaboration Programme (IEA Bioenergy) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), more than 500
May 24, 2023 Read Full Article
New Study Reveals Possible Future Health Impacts Related to Climate Mitigation
(Pennsylvania State University/EurekAlert!) Reduce fossil fuel use and air quality will improve, right? It might not be as straightforward as it appears, according to a Penn State-led research team. They explored almost 30,000 simulated future scenarios and found that some climate
May 23, 2023 Read Full Article
UPDATE 2-Indonesia Urges Importers to Back Sustainable Palm Oil, Not Boycotts
by Mei Mei Chu (Reuters) Indonesia, the world’s largest palm oil exporter, on Wednesday urged importing countries to recognise and pay the premium for sustainably produced palm oil rather than boycotting the widely-used oil, whose production critics say has been linked
May 17, 2023 Read Full Article
S’pore Looking into Wider Adoption of Biofuels, Bioresources to Hit Net-Zero Emissions Target
by Cheryl Tan (Straits Times) To reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, the Republic is studying the potential for wider adoption of biofuels and sustainable bioresources in carbon-intensive sectors such as electricity generation, transport and heavy industry. The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI)
April 24, 2023 Read Full Article
Everything, Everywhere, All At Once: The African Bio-Economy Story
by Douglas L. Faulkner and Gerard J. Ostheimer (Biofuels Digest) With a nod to the Oscar winning movie of the same name, we want to convey a sense of where the African Bioeconomy is now, where it could be headed, and
March 28, 2023 Read Full Article
Indonesia and Malaysia Line up against Brussels
(Biofuels International) Malaysia has thrown its weight behind Indonesia’s rebuke of the EU’s Deforestation Regulation. Indonesia’s President Jokowi and Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim declared their position during the first meeting of the two leaders on January 9, stating that they “agreed
January 19, 2023 Read Full Article
Food, Feed and Fuel for Europe: The Future of Renewable Ethanol
by David Carpintero (ePURE/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... As policymakers hammer out the final details of the so-called Fit for 55 package of climate and energy legislation, there is at least general agreement that reducing emissions from transport requires an important
January 03, 2023 Read Full Article
Are There Better Places to Put Large Solar Farms?
(North America Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance) Farmers and conservationists are worried about large-scale solar farms – especially some projects in Virginia – that rely on deforestation and displacement of farmland that, managed properly, will capture carbon in the air. Some
December 09, 2022 Read Full Article
Deal on New Law to Ensure Products Causing Deforestation Are Not Sold in the EU
(European Parliament) An area larger than the EU was lost to deforestation from 1990 to 2020, with EU consumption causing around 10% of losses; Cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm-oil, soya, wood, rubber, charcoal and printed paper products are covered by the
December 08, 2022 Read Full Article
Fact Check: Fossil Fuels Are the Largest Contributor to Climate Change, Not Animal Agriculture
by Isabella Fertel (USA Today) ... A Nov. 20 Instagram post (direct link, archive link) shows text alongside a picture of a bewildered-looking man. "When people talk about climate change but don't mention how animal agriculture is the biggest contributor," it says. The
December 06, 2022 Read Full Article
After Palm Oil, Activists Aim at Banning Soy Oil for Use in Biofuels
by Sean Goulding Carroll (EURACTIV.com) The European biofuels industry has hit back at NGO allegations that the use of soy oil is driving deforestation in the Amazon, emphasising that soy imported into the bloc can legally not come from deforested land. A new
November 14, 2022 Read Full Article
How Much Mining Is Needed to Save the Planet?
by Jael Holzman (E&E News/Greenwire) With climate change pushing the U.S. toward more rapid adoption of new technologies, many Republicans and Democrats are in rare agreement on one key point: This country needs a lot more mines. But exactly how much new
October 14, 2022 Read Full Article
Implementing Successful Public Policies to Shape the Sustainable Future of the Aviation Industry
by Carolina Grassi, with Arianna Baldo, Cris Robertson, Elena Schmidt & Hannah Walker (Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials) This White Paper is an outcome of the RSB SAF Policy Platform. The platform is a place for RSB’s members – from industry
October 14, 2022 Read Full Article
Belgium to Ban Soy and Palm Oil in Biofuels from 2022
by Lauren Walker (The Brussels Times) Soy and palm oil will be banned from biofuels from 2022 as part of an initiative to eliminate deforestation, the Federal Minister for Environment and Climate Zakia Khattabi announced on Tuesday. Khattabi said that, following the
September 12, 2022 Read Full Article
Group Urges CARB to Limit Biobased Diesel from Lipids under California LCFS
by Ron Kotrba (Biobased Diesel Daily) The International Council on Clean Transportation suggests setting a cap on lipids “would prevent California’s [biobased diesel] market shifting from one that is primarily waste oil-based to one increasingly reliant on food-based fuels with
August 09, 2022 Read Full Article
Paraguay Wants to Build South America’s Largest Biofuels Plant
by Karina Godoy (Diálogo Chino) US$1 billion Omega Green plant is expected to be completed in 2025. Communities and environmental organisations have raised concerns -- In Paraguay, the announcement of a biofuels plant set to be the largest in South
July 20, 2022 Read Full Article
EU Lawmakers Vote to Blacklist Soy Biodiesel over Sustainability Concerns
by Sean Goulding Carroll (EURACTIV.com) The European Parliament’s industry committee voted Wednesday (13 July) to restrict soy oil as a feedstock for biofuel production, a move that would put the crop on the same footing as palm oil in the
July 14, 2022 Read Full Article
Biofuels Industry Pushes for Greater Use in Europe to Reduce Reliance on Russia
by Samyak Pandey (S&P Global) Major industry players seek long-term mandates, ambitious targets; Feedstock availability for industry remains key to achieve targets -- Industry leaders strongly stressed increased biofuels consumption through blending mandates and other measures in a bid to make Europe energy
May 03, 2022 Read Full Article
Palm Oil for Biodiesel in the Amazon: Sustainable Fuel or Deforestation Risk?
Monica Prestes (Dialogo Chino) A planned biorefinery will require the cultivation of 120,000 hectares of oil palm, increasing the area planted in Brazil by 60%. An all too familiar debate is underway -- Oil palm, known as dendezeiro in Brazil, can produce up
March 29, 2022 Read Full Article
MEP Proposes Fewer Restrictions on Biofuels to Meet Higher Renewables Target
by Sean Goulding Carroll (EURACTIV.com) The amount of bioenergy in the EU’s transport sector will increase under plans by the lawmaker leading the European Parliament’s position on the EU’s renewable energy law, a scenario likely to rankle green legislators. Markus Pieper, the
March 18, 2022 Read Full Article
Forest Forward: Illuminating the Path for Climate Action and Conservation
by Elena Schmidt and Nicola Noponen (RSB/Biofuels Digest) The urgent move away from fossil resources means that biomass use will be heavily incentivised for the use in fuel, energy and material supply chains and this presents serious sustainability risks which must
February 22, 2022 Read Full Article
Can the Little-Known Tamanu Tree Replace Palm Oil in Indonesia’s Biofuel Bid?
(South Africa Today) Government researchers in Indonesia believe oil from the tamanu tree (Calophyllum inophyllum) could serve an alternative feedstock for biofuel to palm oil. They say the plant has shown the ability to grow in burned areas and former mining
February 12, 2022 Read Full Article
Bunge Expects Continuing Boom in Global Biofuels Demand - Bloomberg
by Carl Surran (Seeking Alpha) Bunge (BG -0.8%) said a surge in biofuel demand that helped lift the company to record profits in 2021 and stronger than expected Q4 earnings and revenues should accelerate in coming years. The expanded use of biofuels such as renewable
February 10, 2022 Read Full Article
Animal, Vegetable or Mineral (Oil)? Exploring the Potential Impacts of New Renewable Diesel Capacity on Oil and Fat Markets in the United States
by Chris Malins and Cato Sandford (International Council on Clean Transportation) This report provides an overview of the U.S. renewable diesel market and explores the potential market and environmental impacts of increased renewable diesel capacity. The United States currently supports renewable diesel
January 19, 2022 Read Full Article
Uncovering the Deforestation and Climate Risks of Chinese and EU Soy and Beef Imports from South America
by André Vasconcelos (Global Canopy and Trase/Wilson Center) To examine the role of the international community in shaping Latin America’s environmental agenda, the Wilson Center’s Latin American Program and its Brazil Institute, the Environmental Change and Security Program, China Environment Forum, and
January 06, 2022 Read Full Article
300,000 Kenyan Household Subscribers on KOKO's Clean Fuel Platform
(KOKO Networks) Team KOKO today celebrated the company's latest sales milestone, with more than 300,000 household subscribers on our clean fuel and carbon platform in Kenya. KOKO Fuel was launched to the market in late 2019, and has battled major supply-side and
December 31, 2021 Read Full Article
The Race to Secure Clean Energy Materials
by Ben Gelman (Axios) Minerals used in power generation technologies ... One persistent theme in analyses of the transition to cleaner energy is the scramble to obtain supplies needed for renewables projects, electric vehicle batteries and other low-carbon tech. The big picture: "A typical
December 06, 2021 Read Full Article
Growth of Electric Vehicles Endangering Rain Rorests
(NBC News) NBC News investigates how the growing efforts to mine nickel to help power electric vehicles are putting rainforests across the world at risk. It’s a reminder that even clean energy comes with an environmental cost. READ MORE' includes
December 06, 2021 Read Full Article
How the Mercosur Deal’s Ethanol Boost Contradicts EU Green Promises
by Audrey Changoe (Friends of the Earth Europe/EurActiv) While the EU maintains that ethanol has a role to play in Europe’s shift to clean transport, the production of ethanol is damaging the environment and hurting local communities in South America, argues
November 12, 2021 Read Full Article
Hoyer Introduces $9B Bill Bolstering Biden's Deforestation Vow at COP26
by Mychael Schnell (The Hill) House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) on Wednesday will introduce a bill that aims to bolster President Biden’s commitment at COP26 to end and reverse deforestation by allocating billions of dollars to the effort. The bill, first reported by CNN, calls
November 04, 2021 Read Full Article
In Secret Tapes, Palm Oil Execs Disclose Corruption, Brutality
by Desmond Butler (Washington Post) ... Global Witness’s two-year investigation is a rare behind-the-scenes look at the corruption, labor abuses and destructive environmental practices in an industry that is clearing carbon-rich rainforests and emitting greenhouse gases at a rate that
October 10, 2021 Read Full Article
Germany to End Palm Oil Use in Biofuels from 2023 - Ministry
by Michael Hogan (NASDAQ/Reuters) Germany will end the use of palm oil as a raw material to produce biofuels from 2023, the country's environment ministry said on Wednesday. -- ... Germany will instead give a quota for minimum use of waste
September 23, 2021 Read Full Article
CPOPC Urges the EU to Rethink Its Palm Oil Policy
(Biofuels International) The Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) has again urged the European Union to revise its approach on vegetable oils in biofuels. This comes under the framework of RED II in light of the upcoming revision of
July 08, 2021 Read Full Article
Bioresources within a Net-Zero Emissions Economy: Making a Sustainable Approach Possible
(Energy Transitions Commission) In its new report Bioresources within a Net-Zero Emissions Economy, the Energy Transitions Commission (ETC) makes plain that, while bioresources are in principle renewable, not all forms of biomass use are beneficial from an environmental perspective: not all biomass
July 07, 2021 Read Full Article
Biodiesel: The Green Fuel Bridging the EU’s Climate Ambitions
(Politico Studio) Decarbonizing the EU transport sector comes with huge challenges — European biodiesel producers have a key role to play -- With the European Green Deal in the spotlight, the electrification of road transport is taking center stage, promising a
July 02, 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
First Generation Biofuels: Angel or Demon?
by Oliver Mace (Broadmanor Consulting) ... In fact, when it comes to biofuels, sustainability specialists working for the likes of RSB or ISCC have spent countless hours attempting to define what it actually depends ON, in great detail and across many
May 30, 2021 Read Full Article
Get Ready for Big Political Fights Over Carbon Accounting
by Akshat Rathi (Bloomberg Quint) ... Turns out, it was a neat accounting trick. “Australia has made minimal progress towards net zero and its emissions trends are among the worst in the developed world,” a new study from the Australia
May 25, 2021 Read Full Article
Why Latin America is the Middle East of Biofuel
(Lat Am Investor) ... However, as mining experts reveal elsewhere in this report, copper supply will be unable to replace every existing internal combustion engine with an EV by 2050. ... That means biofuels will also play an important role. Latin
May 24, 2021 Read Full Article
UK Seeks Comments on Role of Biomass in Achieving Net-Zero Goal
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The U.K. Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on April 20 opened a public consultation seeking evidence on how sustainable biomass should be sourced and used to support the country’s net-zero target. Comments filed during
April 21, 2021 Read Full Article
Potential Biofuel Production Pathways in Indonesia: Overview of Processes, Feedstocks, and Types of Fuel
by Tenny Kristiana and Chelsea Baldino (International Council on Clean Transportation) Because of its abundant biofuel feedstocks, Indonesia has the potential to produce biofuels via a number of pathways, including using different technologies and feedstocks to create different fuels. There is strong
April 20, 2021 Read Full Article
Belgium to Ban Soy and Palm Oil in Biofuels from 2022
by Lauren Walker (The Brussels Times) Soy and palm oil will be banned from biofuels from 2022 as part of an initiative to eliminate deforestation, the Federal Minister for Environment and Climate Zakia Khattabi announced on Tuesday. Khattabi said that, following the
April 13, 2021 Read Full Article
Leading Palm Oil Producers Formulate Strategy to Safeguard Industry
(Biofuels International) Malaysia will discuss with Indonesia a plan to formulate the best strategy to protect the oil palm industry of both countries for the future. Malaysia’s Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has called for the framework of the
February 25, 2021 Read Full Article
Brazil Is Growing Its Biofuel Industry
by Julio Bravo (Farm Futures) Brazil already has the largest fleet of cars driven by ethanol, mainly from sugarcane; now corn-based ethanol plants are on the rise. The ethanol produced by sugarcane and corn has have the potential to reduce up
February 24, 2021 Read Full Article
From Tree Planting to CO2-Sucking Machines: How Could ‘Negative Emissions’ Help to Tackle the Climate Crisis?
by Daisy Dunne (Independent) Removing CO2 from air will likely be needed if the world is to meet its climate goals, writes Daisy Dunne, but our options for achieving ‘negative emissions’ each come with a unique set of challenges --
February 17, 2021 Read Full Article
Campaigns Questioning the Use of Woody Biomass for Energy Are Missing Key Facts Says IEA (International Energy Agency) Bioenergy
(International Energy Agency) There are concurrent media campaigns and publications questioning the use of woody biomass for renewable energy production. Several of them misrepresent on-the-ground forestry practise and bioenergy systems, and associate the use of woody biomass for energy with overexploitation
February 11, 2021 Read Full Article
Investigations Have Not Found Evidence to Support Milieudefensie Report Allegations on Serious Sustainability Violations within Neste's Raw Material Supply Chain
(Neste) In November 2020, the Dutch environmental organization Milieudefensie published a report “The Dark Side of Neste's biofuel production”. At that time, we published a statement on the report on our website. Since the publication of our statement, we have continued to investigate the
January 21, 2021 Read Full Article
EU Forests Regulation Public Consultation – Indonesia Responds
(Indonesia Palm Oil Facts) Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) has made its submission to the EU Forests Regulation public consultation on reducing deforestation and forest degradation. As background, the European Commission is proposing a Due Diligence regulation to tackle deforestation / forest degradation with the aim
December 28, 2020 Read Full Article
French Guiana Soy Biofuel Power Plants Risk Massive Amazon Deforestation
by Justin Catanoso (Mongabay) The French government, with the support of President Emmanuel Macron, appears eager to approve legislation that would bypass French environmental law banning large scale deforestation to build several soy-fired biofuel power plants in French Guiana —
December 04, 2020 Read Full Article
Brazil’s Rising Deforestation to Draw US Scrutiny
(Argus Media) Brazil's shrinking Amazon rainforest is expected to draw intense scrutiny from the incoming US administration of president-elect Joe Biden, who has pledged to incorporate environmental commitments into trade policy. The controversy over deforestation is a window into broader energy transition
November 17, 2020 Read Full Article
Neste Takes Allegations on Sustainability Violations Seriously – Credible Allegations on Suppliers’ Sustainability Violations Always Investigated
(Neste) A study report produced by Profundo, commissioned by Milieudefensie, has been published on 5 November 2020. The report claims that Neste’s raw material suppliers have been involved in serious sustainability violations, such as deforestation, fires, peat destruction, community and labor
November 10, 2020 Read Full Article
India Can Stop Palm Oil Deforestation in Southeast Asia
by Tammy Klein (Future Fuel Strategies) ... India is the largest consumer of palm oil. It is an extremely versatile ingredient that is firmly a part of our daily lives. According to WWF, palm oil is present in close to 50% of
October 29, 2020 Read Full Article
Biofuels Are a Controversial Climate Solution. Could They Still Help Save the Planet?
by Emily Pontecorvo (Grist) Two recent studies add fresh evidence to both sides of an age-old debate. ... (Lee) Lynd’s study aimed to address the common claim that biofuels do not actually offer greenhouse gas benefits. Ignoring factors like biodiversity and economics, Lynd
September 30, 2020 Read Full Article
Agricultural Waste: The Optimum Biomass Solution?
(Bioenergy Insight) Mogens Slot Knudsen, briquetting expert C.F. Nielsen explains why agricultural waste could be the best solution to preventing deforestation and increased biomass costs. Within the last decades, biomass has become an important element in many countries’ energy strategies.
September 22, 2020 Read Full Article
World-Leading New Law to Protect Rainforests and Clean up Supply Chains DEADLINE October 5, 2020
(U.K. Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) Legislation would make it illegal for larger businesses to use products unless they comply with local laws to protect natural areas. -- Plans to clamp down on illegal deforestation and protect rainforests have
August 31, 2020 Read Full Article
With Colombia and Argentina as a Base, Experts Highlight Potential of Biodiesel in Latin America and the Caribbean
(Clarin (Google translation)) Jens Mesa Dishington, executive president of Fedepalma and Luis María Zubizarreta, president of Acsoja and Carbio, called for the promotion of biodiesel production in the region. -- In a forum organized by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation
August 26, 2020 Read Full Article
WEBINAR: Deforestation in the Time of COVID-19 --- August 27, 2020
Cosponsored by Wilson Center’s China Environment Forum, Brazil Institute, Latin America Program and Environmental Change and Security Program. Three speakers will give short presentations followed by Q&A. Paula Bernasconi from Instituto Centro de Vida (ICV) will talk about the skyrocketing
August 18, 2020 Read Full Article
Showcase Bioeconomy: Research Wants to Combine Species Protection and Palm Oil Production
(University of Hohenheim) In Sumatra, smallholders in particular have a key function, according to a study on the conversion of rainforests into monocultures and their effects -- Oil palm plantations as far as the eye can see. In addition to a dramatic decline
August 17, 2020 Read Full Article
Sime Darby Plantation Publishes Its Oil Palm Genome to Support the Company’s Ambition for a Deforestation-Free Industry
(Sime Darby) Publication of the research is to enable other researchers to accelerate their ability to increase oil palm yield. Over 10 years of research and RM150 million of investment in R&D has resulted in a much more detailed genome
July 17, 2020 Read Full Article
UPDATE 1-Malaysia to File WTO Legal Action against EU over Restrictions on Palm Biofuel
by Mei Mei Chu (Today) Malaysia, the world's second largest palm oil producer, will take legal action against the European Union's restrictions on palm oil-based biofuels with the World Trade Organization (WTO), calling the policy a "discriminatory action". Plantation Industries and Commodities
July 01, 2020 Read Full Article
Tapping into Technology to Improve Palm Oil Yields
(Biofuels International) Malaysian palm oil producers have been urged to use technology to improve yield as the industry wrestles with concerns about sustainability, the chairman of the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) revealed. Malaysia, the world’s second biggest palm oil producer,
May 01, 2020 Read Full Article
Brazil's CJ Selecta Plans to Open First Ethanol Mill Despite Falling Demand
by Ana Mano (Reuters) Brazilian soy crusher CJ Selecta will push ahead with building its first ethanol mill by year’s end, as others in the market steer away from the biofuel amid slumping demand and low gasoline prices. CJ Selecta, the world’s
April 10, 2020 Read Full Article
Are Biofuels Part of the Carbon Emissions Solution?
by Neil Briscoe (Irish Times) ... “Ireland has one million petrol vehicles,” James Cogan, Ethanol Europe’s industry and policy adviser told The Irish Times. “E10 allows that fleet to cut emissions by an amount equivalent to taking 50,000 cars off the road. Or
March 18, 2020 Read Full Article
New Study Finds ‘Insignificant’ Link between US Biofuel Policy and Deforestation in Southeast Asia
(Biofuels International) A new study carried out by economic modelling experts from Purdue University in the US has found the impacts of US biofuel policy on deforestation in Malaysia and Indonesia to be insignificant. The study, titled ‘US Biofuel Production and
January 21, 2020 Read Full Article
Oil Giant Eni Fined €5m for Deceiving Consumers over Its ‘Green’ Diesel
(Government Europa) Italian regulators today (January 15, 2020) fined Italy’s oil giant Eni over advertisements on TV and in newspapers, digital media and petrol stations that falsely claimed Eni Diesel+ was ‘green’. The watchdog states that the marketing campaign deceives consumers
January 16, 2020 Read Full Article
The Science Is Clear on Renewable Wood Energy
by Brian Rogers (Future Forests + Jobs/Biomass Magazine) ... And over the past year, the facts have been piling up in favor of bioenergy, as international authorities and university scientists settle the debate once and for all: Renewable wood biomass
January 14, 2020 Read Full Article
European Liquor off the Menu in Indonesia as Trade Row Escalates
by Ed Davies and Philip Blenkinsop (Reuters/Jakarta Post) What started as a spat with the European Union over Indonesian palm oil has escalated into a far broader trade dispute with imported European spirits and now dairy products caught in the crossfire. Trade
December 26, 2019 Read Full Article
Standards Alliance Organizes Workshop on Biofuel Standards for Household Cooking and Transportation
(American National Standards Institute) The American National Standards Institute (ANSI), through its public-private partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Standards Alliance, organized a one-day workshop on biofuel standards for household cooking and transportation in Maputo, Mozambique, on November 14, 2019. This
December 24, 2019 Read Full Article
Can China Shift to Sustainable Palm Oil?
(China Dialogue/Future Fuel Strategies) ... But the positive changes have been more than negated by growth in demand for unsustainable palm oil from other markets. No country plays a larger role than China, the chief destination for Indonesian exports and
December 13, 2019 Read Full Article
Brazil Sugarcane Growth Can Meet Biofuel Need and Not Drive Deforestation: Study
by Claire Asher (South Africa Today/Mongabay) -Sugarcane crop production in Brazil may need to expand by up to 5 million hectares by 2030 to meet a rising demand for ethanol biofuels, according to computer models that compared the impact of different
November 29, 2019 Read Full Article
In Surprise Move, Brazil Has Removed Restrictions on Amazon Sugarcane Production
by Naira Hofmeister (Mongabay) -Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has signed a decree revoking a zoning regulation for the sugarcane industry, effectively allowing for cultivation of the crop in the Amazon and other areas of primary forest. -The measure is controversial because
November 15, 2019 Read Full Article
UNIDO Rolls out 500,000 Clean Cook Stoves in Dar es Salaam
(United Nations Industrial Development Organization) The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and its partners initiated the roll-out of 500,000 ethanol cook stoves to households in various wards of Dar es Salaam. Speaking on behalf of the District Commissioner for Ilala, the
November 13, 2019 Read Full Article
Brazil Carbon Emissions Stable as Clean Energy Use Offsets Deforestation
(Reuters/Voice of America) Brazil's carbon emissions have remained stable despite an increase in deforestation because they were offset by a larger use of clean energy sources such as ethanol and wind power, a report said on Tuesday. ... Emissions from the energy
November 07, 2019 Read Full Article
Planting a Trillion Trees Will Not Halt Climate Change
by Kay Ledbetter (Farm Progress/Southwest Farm Press) Tree planting in natural grasslands can destroy plant and animal habitat and won't sequester enough carbon to compensate for fossil fuel emissions. -- A group of 46 scientists from around the world, led by
October 28, 2019 Read Full Article
A Roadmap to Make the Land Sector Carbon Neutral by 2040
(Environmental News Network/International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis) ... IIASA researchers contributed to the development of a new roadmap outlining actions on deforestation, restoration, and carbon cuts that could lead to the land sector becoming carbon neutral by 2040 and
October 24, 2019 Read Full Article
Govt Allocates RM550m for Palm Oil Smallholders, Plans B20 Biodiesel Rollout in 2020
by Tan Xue Ying (The Edge Markets) Concerned by the impact of low commodity prices on livelihoods of Malaysians in the plantation sector, the government has proposed a palm oil replanting loan fund of RM550 million. In the budget speech 2020 in
October 15, 2019 Read Full Article
New Tool Shows Decline in Oil-Palm Related Deforestation in Borneo
by Monica Evans (Forests News) Open-access atlas a boon for monitoring and transparency -- In a welcome “good news” story for the world’s carbon stocks and biodiversity, the felling of old-growth forest for oil palm plantations on the island of Borneo
September 24, 2019 Read Full Article
Chinese Demand Heats up Brazil’s Ethanol Industry
by Sarita Reed and Vinicius Fontana (China Dialogue) Adding ethanol to Chinese petrol will decrease emissions but could worsen Brazil’s deforestation -- There are 332 million cars on the road in China, more than anywhere in the world. Most run
August 14, 2019 Read Full Article
The Safrinha Subpoena, or, Do They that Soy the Wind Ripen the Whirlwind?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Today we’re going to relate a detective story which begins with an unexplained and foul stink, and branches off into climate, trade, the eradication of poverty, crop rotation, the politics of the Amazon, the flow
August 13, 2019 Read Full Article
APPG for British Bioethanol Publishes FINAL Report on E10 Inquiry
(British Bioethanol) The APPG for British Bioethanol has launched its final report on the introduction of E10 today (July 16, 2019). Stemming from the launch of an Inquiry in March into the lack of progress made by the DfT to publish
July 18, 2019 Read Full Article
Norway Sees Sharp Drop in Palm Oil Biofuel Consumption after Ban on Government Purchasing
by Lauren Crothers (South Africa Today) -Norway saw drop in palm oil consumption following new regulations limiting sales in response to concerns about deforestation for plantations. -The decrease has been lauded by a Norwegian rainforest advocacy group, which called it
June 24, 2019 Read Full Article
Total Prepares to Begin Operations at La Mède Biorefinery
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) French multinational oil giant Total S.A. is just days away from a much-anticipated startup at its La Mède biorefinery in the south of France. A representative of Total told Biodiesel Magazine that the renewable diesel processing facility is
May 29, 2019 Read Full Article
Poland against EU Plan to Ban Use of Palm Oil for Biofuels: Envoy
(The Sun Daily/Bernama) Poland is against the European Union’s (EU) proposed plan to ban the use of palm oil as a component of biofuels, and stressed that the republic does not intend to reduce the demand for Malaysian palm oil. Polish Ambassador
May 29, 2019 Read Full Article
Sime Darby Plantation Launches ‘Crosscheck’ in a Major Step towards Palm Oil Supply Chain Traceability
(Sime Darby) Sime Darby Plantation Berhad (SDP) today launches ‘Crosscheck’, an open access online tool that allows everyone to trace sources of SDP’s palm oil supply down to the mill level. This latest effort by SDP represents a major step forward
May 29, 2019 Read Full Article
BASF, The Estee Lauder Companies, Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil and Solidaridad partner for sustainable palm project partner for sustainable palm project
(BASF) Sustainability project in Lampung, Indonesia launched; Program to encompass 1,000 independent Indonesian smallholder farmers -- BASF, The Estée Lauder Companies and the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) are partnering with the civil society organization Solidaridad to promote sustainable palm oil and
May 29, 2019 Read Full Article
Malaysia Can Help Reduce Aviation Industry Carbon Footprint with Palm Oil Biofuel, Says Teresa Kok
by Yiswaree Palansamy (Malay Mail) Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok said the ministry is planning to produce biofuel using palm oil for the aviation industry, in a bid to boost palm oil sales and to reduce carbon emissions. In a special media
April 29, 2019 Read Full Article
A Sweet Approach to Clean Cooking
by Danilo De Oliveira Pereira (United National Industrial Development Organization) UNIDO is implementing a programme which creates value chains of clean cooking fuels and technologies in several countries. With a “market enabling framework,” the organization is turning the lack of clean cooking
April 25, 2019 Read Full Article
Malaysia Threatens WTO Case over Dropping Biofuel
(Reuters/The Express Tribune) Malaysia on Saturday threatened to bring a World Trade Organisation (WTO) challenge if the European Union goes ahead with recommendations to phase out palm oil from transport fuel used in the bloc. In a list of criteria published
March 18, 2019 Read Full Article
EU Sets Limits on Palm Oil in Biofuels as Trade War Looms
by Ewa Krukowska (Bloomberg Quint) The European Union set new criteria for the use of palm oil in biofuels in a balancing act to try to avert a trade war with producers in Asia while appeasing climate protagonists at home. The measure
March 14, 2019 Read Full Article
Indonesian Candidates Find Common Ground in Support for Palm Oil
by Basten Gokkon (Mongabay/Eco-Business) Environmental activists have criticised Indonesia’s two presidential candidates, Joko Widodo and Prabowo Subianto, for not addressing the negative aspects of palm oil production, which both are pushing as a feedstock for biodiesel. Indonesian President Joko Widodo and his challenger
February 25, 2019 Read Full Article
Brazil May Boost Ethanol Production without Deforestation
by Rodrigo de Oliveira Andrade (SciDev.net) Ethanol sugarcane by-products serve to feed cattle with highly nourishing forage; Requires adapting US system; Recovery strategies for deforested areas also required -- By integrating the cultivation of sugarcane for ethanol with beef cattle breeding on the same
February 06, 2019 Read Full Article
Palm Oil’s Loss May Be U.S. Soybean Gain in EU Biofuel Rule (1)
by Stephen Gardner (Bloomberg) European Union must propose rule on biofuel crops that cause deforestation or other land-use change by Feb. 1; Palm oil would be phased out as biofuel feedstock in EU, U.S. soybean farmers could benefit -- U.S. soybean companies could be
January 24, 2019 Read Full Article
Palm Oil No Longer Considered ‘Biofuel’ in France
by Cécile Barbière (EURACTIV.fr |translated by Rob Kirby) In a rare revolt against the government, the French National Assembly has passed a bill explicitly saying palm oil “is not a biofuel” and won’t be eligible for tax breaks as of 1
January 18, 2019 Read Full Article
Total Says French Palm Oil Curb Threatens Biofuel Facility
(The Star) French energy group Total said a move by lawmakers to exclude palm oil from raw materials approved for use in biofuel would put at risk its La Mede facility in southern France. French lawmakers last month voted to remove palm
January 15, 2019 Read Full Article
Why Investors Ditched Sh2tr Biofuels Projects
by Ludger Kasumuni (The Citizen) Several investors have abandoned their $1 billion (Sh2.3 trillion) biofuels projects in Tanzania, according to a survey by BusinessWeek. Mtamba Biofuel Farm in Kisarawe, Coast Region. It has been estimated that between 2007 and 2008, the Southern
January 11, 2019 Read Full Article
Malaysia Says Norway Move to Ban Palm-Based Biodiesel Could Hinder EFTA Trade Talks
(Reuters/Investing.com) Norway's plans to ban biofuels containing palm oil from 2020 are set to provide a major obstacle to long-running trade talks between the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and Malaysia, a Kuala Lumpur government minister said on Friday. A Norwegian parliament
December 28, 2018 Read Full Article
How Poverty Is Causing Deforestation Across Africa
by Obed Owusu-Adda (Chatham House) Gitika Bhardwaj speaks to campaigner Obed Owusu-Addai about why solving the problem of deforestation across Africa requires tackling one of its biggest causes – poverty. -- Deforestation is directly being caused by activities such as illegal logging,
December 11, 2018 Read Full Article
More Bioplastics Do Not Necessarily Contribute to Climate Change Mitigation
(University of Bonn) Study from the University of Bonn assesses potential implications of transitioning to plant-based plastics -- Bioplastics are often promoted as an environmentally and climate-friendly alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics. However, a recent study from the University of Bonn suggests
December 11, 2018 Read Full Article
Norway to Heavily Restrict Palm Oils Linked to Deforestation
by Josh Gabbatiss (Independent) 'The Norwegian parliament’s decision sets an important example to other countries and demonstrates the need for a serious reform of the world’s palm oil industry,' activist says -- Norway is to become the first country to stop its biofuel
December 10, 2018 Read Full Article
Virtual NGO Making Waves with Online Petition against Palm Oil in Europe
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In the UK, virtual NGO SumOfUs has gathered nearly 75,000 signatures on a digital petition demanding the European Commission to ban palm oil as part of the regulatory process that will see it publish a report on “high
November 21, 2018 Read Full Article
Analysis of High and Low Indirect Land-Use Change Definitions in European Union Renewable Fuel Policy
by Stephanie Searle & Jacopo Giuntoli (International Council on Clean Transportation) The European Union (EU) will continue incentivizing the use of biofuels and other renewable fuels through its recast Renewable Energy Directive for 2021-2030 (RED II). This directive includes a provision
November 21, 2018 Read Full Article
Part of the Answer to Climate Change May Be America’s Trees and Dirt, Scientists Say
by Brad Plumer (New York Times) ... A new study published on Wednesday, however, found that better management of forests, grasslands and soils in the United States could offset as much as 21 percent of the country’s annual greenhouse gas emissions. At
November 19, 2018 Read Full Article
France Sets Out Plan to End 'Imported Deforestation'
(France 24 with Reuters) France set out plans on Wednesday to tackle deforestation around the world, saying it would look to curb imports of products such as palm oil, soy and beef that contribute to the destruction of forest areas. In a
November 15, 2018 Read Full Article
ZSL Report Finds Palm Oil Companies’ Commitments Lacking
(Zoological Society of London) World’s largest survey of palm oil producers and traders finds lack of assurance in tackling forest loss. Zero-deforestation commitments within the palm oil industry risk being undermined by a lack of monitoring within production landscapes – meaning the
November 12, 2018 Read Full Article
Climate Researchers: More Green Space, Less Biofuel
(Iran Daily) ... According to UPI, John M. DeCicco, a research professor at the University of Michigan Energy Institute, and William H. Schlesinger, president emeritus of the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, want to see more conservation of the planet's natural
October 01, 2018 Read Full Article
Govt Enlists FGV's Help to Assist Smallholders Get MSPO Certification
by V. Ragananthini (Sun Daily) Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok said the ministry will assist FGV Holdings Bhd in attracting investors to develop the downstream palm oil segment and in turn look to it for help with getting small palm oil growers
September 05, 2018 Read Full Article
Palm Oil Watchdog Urged to Take 'Giant Leap' to Save Forests
by Michael Taylor (Thomson Reuters Foundation) Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil must include a commitment to zero deforestation in new standards, environmental experts say -- The global watchdog for the palm oil industry must strengthen its standards to require all members to
August 28, 2018 Read Full Article
New Research Calculates Capacity of North American Forests to Sequester Carbon
(University of California-Santa Cruz/EurekAlert!) Gains of only 22 percent over the next six decades represent best-case scenario -- Researchers have calculated the capacity of North American forests to sequester carbon in a detailed analysis that for the first time integrates the effects