by Nelson Bennett (Delta Optimist) Biofuels' environmental and economic opportunities for Canada: C.D. Howe -- Canada is well-positioned to profit both environmentally and economically from a growing biofuel industry, but faces risks in scaling up biofuel production in a way that is
marginal land
Back TO HOMEThe Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Next-Generation Feedstocks for the Emerging Bioeconomy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A team of researchers have designed a project to develop productive, cost-effective, and sustainable warm-season perennial bioenergy feedstock production systems on marginal croplands across geographic locations in the Midwest. They have found that there is limited data
October 24, 2024 Read Full Article
Honeywell Dabbling In Hemp
by Terry Lassitenaz (Hemp Gazette) Honeywell last week announced a partnership with a US bioenergy company seeking to utilise industrial hemp and other non-food crops for the production of biochemicals. Honeywell is a huge multi-national corporation with its fingers in a number
October 21, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to the State of Renewable Feedstocks and Agriculture
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In this presentation, we explored the challenges faced in the transition to sustainable, available, reliable, affordable feedsocks. We look at the crops getting traction, new crops developing, the role of residues, new data from the Billion
July 30, 2024 Read Full Article
Pongamia Trees Grow Where Citrus Once Flourished, Offering Renewable Energy and Plant-Based Protein
by Frieda Frisaro (Associated Press) An ancient tree from India is now thriving in groves where citrus trees once flourished in Florida, and could help provide the nation with renewable energy. As large parts of the Sunshine State’s once-famous citrus industry have
July 09, 2024 Read Full Article
Embrapa and Acelen Renewables Begin Macauba Domestication for Aviation Fuel and Bioproducts
(Acelen) Biofuels from the Brazilian plant have the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 80% compared to fossil fuels. -- A technical meeting involving scientific leaders from Acelen Renewables, Embrapii, and Embrapa initiated the technological development project for the macauba
July 03, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Hexas Biomass
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Hexas Biomass is a biomaterials company focused on the production and use of sustainable plant-based materials to replace wood and petroleum-based feedstocks in multiple applications, including energy, chemicals, packaging, textiles, and structural/non-structural applications. CEO Wendy Owens
June 26, 2024 Read Full Article
University of Nevada, Reno Research Focuses on Use of Cactus Pear in Biofuel Production
by John Seelmeyer (Nevada Today) University of Nevada, Reno research focuses on use of cactus pear in biofuel production; Spurred by climate change demands, three-year field trial identifies high-production varieties; Cactus pear, known scientifically as Opuntia cochenillifera, appears to have significant potential
June 25, 2024 Read Full Article
Tens of Millions of Acres of Cropland Lie Abandoned, Study Shows
by Erin Blakemore (Washington Post) The biggest changes took place around the Ogallala Aquifer, whose groundwater irrigates parts of numerous states, including Colorado, Texas and Wyoming. -- About 30 million acres of U.S. cropland have been abandoned since the 1980s, a new
June 11, 2024 Read Full Article
Unlocking New Zealand's Green Energy Future: Short Rotation Forestry Holds Key to Lowering Fossil Fuel Dependency
(Scion) A two-year research project has shed light on the promising opportunities for regional New Zealand to adopt short rotation forestry (SRF) for bioenergy production. The findings show that leveraging short rotation forestry will not only diversify regional economies, but also contribute to
June 07, 2024 Read Full Article
Researchers Provide a Supply Chain Model to Chart a Pathway to Next-gen Biofuels
by Colton Poore (Princeton University/Tech Xplore) From soil to sequestration, researchers at Princeton University and the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center have modeled what a supply chain for second-generation biofuels might look like in the midwestern United States. These next-generation biofuels are
May 25, 2024 Read Full Article
Plant Fuels Could One Day Power Airlines and Cars while Lowering Carbon Emissions
by Joe Tarr (Wisconsin Public Radio) Head of the Wisconsin Energy Institute, Mary Blanchard, details biofuels innovations -- ... However, Blanchard (Mary Blanchard, associate director of the Wisconsin Energy Institute) told WPR’s “The Morning Show,” new biofuels have the potential to totally replace
May 17, 2024 Read Full Article
Oguta Lake Partners US Firm to Invest $50m in Imo Biodiesel Plant
by Saby Elemba (Business Day) Oguta Lake Amishi Ventures (OLAMV) in collaboration with Global Green Bioenergy Limited , California USA has concluded plans to plant about 15 hectares of Jatropha Curcas along the banks of Oguta Lake in Oguta Local Government Area
April 11, 2024 Read Full Article
European Biodiesel Board Statement on the Commission Adoption of the Revised RED Annex IX
(European Biodiesel Board) The European Biodiesel Board (EBB) welcomes the addition of several new feedstocks in the revised Annex IX to the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) adopted by the European Commission. Further clarifications on the definitions of the newly added feedstocks
April 02, 2024 Read Full Article
2023 Billion-Ton Report: An Assessment of U.S. Renewable Carbon Resources
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technology Office's (BETO) 2023 Billion-Ton Report (BT23) is the 4th in a series of assessments of potential biomass resources available in the United States. BT23 explores these resources in
March 19, 2024 Read Full Article
New Energy Blue Forms New Energy Chemicals to Sustainably Produce Bio-Sourced Ethylene for Carbon-Zero Jet Fuel and Dow's Renewable Plastics
(New Energy Blue/PR Newswire) New Energy Blue, the clean-energy developer of lowest-carbon biofuel and biochemicals from crop residues, today advances its Decarbonizing America agenda by forming New Energy Chemicals. In phase one, the new biochemical subsidiary will produce American-sourced and American-made bio-based
March 18, 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
Producing Transportation Fuels, Electrical Power, and Chemicals in a Circular Bioeconomy
Timothy J. Donohue (National Academy of Engineering) Renewable raw materials can be exploited as alternatives to fossil fuel–based liquid transportation fuels, electrical power, and chemicals. -- Among today’s greatest challenges is the development of sustainable and cost-effective ways to produce sufficient transportation
February 19, 2024 Read Full Article
Are First-Generation Biofuels Sustainable?
(World Bio Market Insights) The sustainability of first-generation biofuels have attracted controversy, with questions around their true emissions savings and their impacts on other environmental metrics like water pollution and water consumption. We look at recent scientific evidence on whether and how
February 14, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to the State of Feedstocks and Advanced Agriculture
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In this presentation, we explored the challenges faced by global feedstock producers in shifting towards low carbon fuels, chemicals and materials — new technologies for yield, better soil and carbon practices, new crops and intermediates, and
February 12, 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
India Could Triple Its Biofuel Use and Accelerate Global Deployment
by Jeremy Moorhouse and Astha Gupta (IEA) India has quickly joined the ranks of major biofuel producer and consumer thanks to a set of coordinated policies, high-level political support, and an abundance of feedstocks. Over the next five years it has the
February 07, 2024 Read Full Article
Is There a Future for Biodiesel in Europe?
by Edgar Ahn (BDI-BioEnergy International GmbH/Biobased Diesel Daily) A comprehensive look at the policy landscape and market opportunities for fatty acid methyl esters in the European Union. -- ... A group of experts from the Dutch Rabobank anticipates a sharp decline in
February 06, 2024 Read Full Article
Biofuels to Make up 6% of Road Transport by 2030: IEA
by Thomas Washington (S&P Global) Road transport to retain lion's share of liquid biofuels in 2030; FAME 0 at over $300/mt premium to LSGO futures; Oil demand in transport set to decline from 2026 Biofuel demand is forecast to expand to 6%
January 05, 2024 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
Biofuel Is Good, But Could It Be Great?
by Treena Hein (Seed World) As demand rises for biofuels, plant breeders are working hard to increase biofuel feedstocks’ productivity and biofuel’s sustainability. -- ... (I)nfrastructure development and plant breeders’ efforts during the past decade have put biofuels on the map in
November 22, 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
Can Biofuel Crops Help Lift Poor Farmers out of Poverty?
by Eyal Ronen (Casterra/Ag Funder News) It’s tough to make a decent living as a farmer, but for a farmer in a developing country with land of mediocre quality, at best, making a decent living can be almost impossible. Millions of farmers in
November 17, 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
VISION Bioenergy Oilseeds and ADAMA Collaborate to Expand Crop Protection Solutions for Camelina Growers
(ADAMA US/PR Newswire) Joint Development Agreement Set to Create New Crop Protection Solutions and Expand Registered Crop Protection Products for Camelina -- VISION Bioenergy Oilseeds (VISION), a US agricultural company driving the growth of Camelina as an essential feedstock for advanced renewable
November 08, 2023 Read Full Article
Biofuels Hold Promise as Alternative to Fossil Fuels
by Pitambara and Bishwa Bhaskar Choudhary (The Tribune) The govt should consider making a budgetary allocation to implement measures to promote wasteland for the cultivation of energy crops and impart technical know-how to farmers. Increasing the allocation and extending the term
October 16, 2023 Read Full Article
Eni’s Africa Biofuel Feedstock Plan to Cost €700 Million
(BNN Bloomberg) Eni SpA’s plan to set up plants to source approximately 700,000 tons of biofuel feedstock from Africa by 2026 will cost as much as €700 million ($735 million), according to a senior company official. The plan has already received its
October 03, 2023 Read Full Article
25 Bold Actions to Accelerate Global Bioeconomy Deployment: Results from the 9/22/23 Meet-up of the Bold Goals Action Group in Sydney
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Australia, at the initial meet-up of the global Bold Goals Action Group, leaders of the global bioeconomy, a “coalition of the willing”, established a draft of 25 Bold Actions that, if achieved by the various stakeholders in
September 29, 2023 Read Full Article
Global Biofuel Output Lags in Race to Achieve Net Zero Emissions Targets: IEA
by Aditya Kondalamahanty and Samyak Pandey (S&P Global) Biofuel demand for road transport to peak by 2040; Need to broaden feedstock base to increase supply; Biodiesel production rising 9% per year, energy agency says -- Biofuel production globally is not progressing fast
September 26, 2023 Read Full Article
Op-ed: Biofuels Don’t Steal Land from Food Producers
by Eyal Ronen (Casterra/ Ag Daily) Food insecurity continues to be a problem for the world — and it’s a problem that’s getting worse. According to the World Bank , the number of people facing moderate to severe food insecurity topped 2 billion in
September 08, 2023 Read Full Article
GranBio Invests in the Production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
By Andréia Vital (JornalCana (Google Translation)) Total value for this project will be US$ 220 million -- GranBio seeks to promote the use of energy cane for the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in Brazil. During participation in a webinar held by Unicamp , last week, Bernardo Gradin , CEO of the
August 24, 2023 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to the State of Biomass Feedstocks and Supply-Chains
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Here’s the State of Biomass Feedstocks and Supply-Chains presentation from the ABLC CONNECT series episode. Available supply, conventional crops, new crops and trees, cover crops, R&D initiatives, consortia — a comprehensive but compact look at the industry in
August 01, 2023 Read Full Article
Carbon-Negative Bioenergy Technologies Gain Traction as a Climate Solution
by Brandon Mulder (S&P Global) Study suggests 500 mil mt/year of biomass feedstock; BECCS needs further policy support ... Ethanol production is the largest bioenergy activity in the US. For BECCS to scale to the levels the IPCC identified, the bioenergy industry
June 30, 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
Acelen Innovates in Renewable Fuels and Will Invest More than R$ 12 Billion
(Acelen (Google Translation) In Abu Dhabi, the company signs a memorandum of understanding with the government of Bahia for the production of renewable diesel and QAV, helping to accelerate Brazil's energy transition -- Acelen expects to invest more than R$ 12
April 18, 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
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
UW–Madison Research Key to Decarbonization Plan
by Chris Hubbuch (Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center) Researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison are working to develop plant-based fuels that are a key piece of the nation’s blueprint for decarbonizing transportation. ... That will require sustainable alternatives to gasoline,
February 07, 2023 Read Full Article
Crop-Based Biofuels Still Play a Role in Clean and Affordable Energy
by Dawson Schmitt (The Heartland Report) ... Ukraine, a major producer of corn and wheat, could not ship grain from its ports in the Black Sea, a major transportation outlet for food exports. Since agriculture is global, U.S. prices reacted, increasing
February 03, 2023 Read Full Article
Award Supports Biofuel Sustainability Research through Specialized Equipment Access
by Scott Weybright (Washington State University College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences) Washington State University scientists are working to more precisely understand how plants use nutrients from soil at the level of single cells, with the goal of helping
January 31, 2023 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
Eni and BF Reach an Agreement on the National Territory to Develop an Agro-Industrial Supply Chain for Energy Use
(Eni) Based on the results obtained under the agreement, the partners will be able to evaluate the industrial scalability of the project on large areas -- Eni and BF have signed a collaboration agreement to evaluate the development of crops for
November 30, 2022 Read Full Article
How to Rescue Biofuels from a Sustainable Dead End
by Peter Fairley (Nature) An environmentally friendly path forwards for liquid fuel derived from plants will depend on smarter agriculture and smarter regulation. -- ... If filling fuel tanks with these plant-derived liquids reduces carbon emissions by decreasing the demand
November 23, 2022 Read Full Article
Biofuel Research: Full Decarbonization of U.S. Aviation Sector Is within Grasp
(SciTechDaily/Arizona State University) The study found that planting the grass miscanthus on 23.2 million hectares of existing marginal agricultural lands – land that often lays fallow or is poor in soil quality – across the United States would provide enough
November 15, 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
The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to Next-Gen Feedstocks for the Emerging Bioeconomy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The goal of this project is to develop productive, cost-effective and sustainable warm-season perennial bioenergy feedstock production systems on marginal croplands across geographic locations in the Midwest. The University of Illinois (at Champaign-Urbana)’s D. K.
October 05, 2022 Read Full Article
Husker-Led Team Exploiting Oilseeds’ Potential in Biofuels, Bioproducts
by Tiffany Lee (University of Nebraska) A University of Nebraska–Lincoln researcher is leading a team working to unlock the full potential of two oilseeds that may help meet the escalating demand for renewable fuels, industrial chemicals and other bioproducts. The team
September 16, 2022 Read Full Article
Eni Launches the First Production of Vegetable Oil for Biorefining in Kenya
(Eni) The initiative in Kenya represents the first integrated project in the world to bring Africa into the vertical bio-refinery supply chain by providing income opportunities and market access to thousands of farmers in degraded areas. -- Eni completed the construction
July 19, 2022 Read Full Article
Biogas Opportunities in Africa
by Anthony Wright (Gasworld) With the biogas industry seeing development across the globe, David Sonnenberg, Co-Founder of Uhuru Energy (Uhuru) is looking at the future opportunities for developing large scale biogas industries in Africa, aligned to the continent’s development goals. Uhuru makes
July 18, 2022 Read Full Article
Giant Grass Miscanthus: Bioethanol Source with Negative CO2 Balance
(University of Hohenheim) European collaborative project led by the University of Hohenheim shows: Combining bioethanol production with carbon storage can effectively reduce CO2. A significant reduction in greenhouse gas is feasible. This is the conclusion reached by researchers at the University
April 22, 2022 Read Full Article
Bricks and Biofuels: Cannabis Can Grow South Africa
by Paul Michael Keichel (Mail & Guardian) We are finally gathering momentum towards a regulated cannabis industry in South Africa. But much of the narrative tunnel-visions on the so-called recreational or medicinal markets. Decades of prohibition has had us forget that,
April 16, 2022 Read Full Article
Giant Grass Miscanthus: Bioethanol Source with Negative CO2 Balance
(University of Hohenheim) European collaborative project led by the University of Hohenheim shows: Combining bioethanol production with carbon storage can effectively reduce CO2. -- A significant reduction in greenhouse gas is feasible. This is the conclusion reached by researchers at the
April 06, 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
New MSU Research Shows How Biofuel Crops Can Help Mitigate Climate Change When Grown on Land of Otherwise Little Agricultural Value
by Cameron Rudolph (Michigan State University) Newly published research from MSU Foundation Professor Bruno Basso shows how some Midwest farmers can see economic and environmental benefits of growing switchgrass, a biofuel crop, on traditionally less-productive land. -- Newly published Michigan State University
March 24, 2022 Read Full Article
Safflower an Oil Alternative?
by Shannon Beattie (Farm Weekly) ... Since the original creation, it has been further developed and marketed by GO Resources which holds the rights to the SHO (super high oleic) trait that produces an oil used in top-end machinery, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics,
January 28, 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
Which Is More Important To Biofuels – The Soil Or The Crop?
by James Conca (Forbes) ... Plants take carbon from the air, build cells, then release some of the carbon into the soil through roots and root exudates. Some have suggested that growing biofuel crops in marginal soils, which generally have low carbon content,
January 11, 2022 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
State of Advanced Biofuels & Biorefining
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Check out remarks from Jim Lane, Editor & Publisher of The Digest on rationale, forecast, the top news and storylines, feedstocks, genetics, crops, supply chain and more on the state of advanced biofuels and
November 30, 2021 Read Full Article
America’s Native Grasslands Are Disappearing
by Katharine Gammon (The Guardian) The Great Plains are being torn up at a ferocious rate – with frightening implications for biodiversity and carbon storage. -- ... (Patrick)Lendrum led a research team that released a report in September showing that from 2018
November 05, 2021 Read Full Article
Canola Research in West Texas: Four-Year Project Will Test Canola Cultivars and Irrigation Strategies
(AgriLife Today) West Texas farmers dealing with high-salinity water and limited irrigation need an alternative crop, such as canola, that’s adaptable to harsh conditions. Texas A&M AgriLife research will soon evaluate the potential for canola as an alternative crop amid the region’s
November 01, 2021 Read Full Article
Crops, Genetics, Feedstocks, Supply Chains: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to State of the Sector
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Whether you are using novel crops, residues, developing supply-chains, or developing new feedstocks for the bioeconomy, this is an exclusive Digest slide guide you won’t want to miss! Straight from our recent State of the
October 18, 2021 Read Full Article
Italy’s Eni Works Sub-Saharan African Countries into Renewable Diesel Feedstock Supply Chain
by Ron Kotrba (Biobased Diesel Daily) The CEO of Italian energy and renewable diesel company Eni S.p.A., Claudio Descalzi, has signed two memorandums of understanding (MOU) in recent days with two Sub-Saharan African nations, the Congo and Angola, on joint development
October 12, 2021 Read Full Article
Eni Supports Energy Transition and Decarbonization in the Republic of Congo
(Eni) Eni, Republic of Congo sign MoU on joint development of bio-refining agro-feedstock sector; Eni delegation led by CEO Descalzi met President Sassou Nguesso to discuss agricultural programs and gas valorization also with reference to access to energy for domestic
October 06, 2021 Read Full Article
Drax and NFU to Partner Boost UK Energy Crop Market
(NFU Online) World leader in sustainable bioenergy Drax Group has teamed up with the National Farmers Union of England and Wales (NFU), to identify opportunities to scale up perennial energy crop production and help the UK meet its ambitious climate goals. The
September 21, 2021 Read Full Article
Switchgrass and Miscanthus on Mined Lands for Biofuel and Biomass Production
(Association of Warm Season Grass Producers) I grow switchgrass and miscanthus on mined lands for biofuel and biomass production. The idea of using marginal lands for these crops has been around for a while and I started doing it about
July 27, 2021 Read Full Article
Energycane Produces More Biodiesel than Soybean at a Lower Cost
(University of Illinois/EurekAlert!) Bioenergy from crops is a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. New crops such as energycane can produce several times more fuel per acre than soybeans. Yet, challenges remain in processing the crops to extract fuel efficiently. Four new studies
July 08, 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
Switching to Switchgrass: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Next-Gen Feedstocks in Midwest
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Bioenergy switchgrass feedstock – can it be the next-generation feedstock we’ve been looking for in the Midwest? University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is looking at perennial bioenergy feedstock production on marginal croplands across geographic locations in
May 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
‘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
Transitioning to a Sustainable Bioeconomy with Algae Biofuels and Biomaterials – Policy Directions for 2021 and Beyond
(Algae Biomass Organization) ... Algae, encompassing photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic aquatic organisms including microalgae and seaweeds (macroalgae), create a highly versatile and tunable platform for the development of fuels and products. In most cases, large scale algae production can be done
April 01, 2021 Read Full Article
Researchers Challenge the CRP Status Quo to Mitigate Fossil Fuels
(University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment/Phys.Org) ... (A)llocating CRP land for high-yielding energy biomass might eliminate the need for bioenergy crops and food crops to vie for space. A team led by CABBI Sustainability Theme Leader
February 26, 2021 Read Full Article
The Future Is... Jet Fuel Made From Mustard Seeds
(Honeywell) Engineers Willie Morrissette and Tony Barnette break down the importance of powering planes with plants. Fuel made from non-edible mustard seeds helped power a flight in 2018. The plane flew from California to Australia, making history and propelling us into
January 25, 2021 Read Full Article
Abandoned Cropland Should Produce Biofuels
by Steinar Brandslet (Norwegian University of Science and Technology/Phys.Org) Growing perennial grasses on abandoned cropland has the potential to counteract some of the negative impacts of climate change by switching to more biofuels, according to an NTNU research group. Researchers consider
January 23, 2021 Read Full Article
UPM Joins the BIKE Project Promoting Sustainable Biomass Value Chains for Biofuels
(UPM Biofuels) UPM Biofuels has joined the BIKE project that promotes low-ILUC risk biofuels production for European Bioeconomy. The project brings together companies and research organisations who believe that novel, safe and reliable biomass value chains can be deployed to produce
December 21, 2020 Read Full Article
Optimising Miscanthus for a Sustainable Bioeconomy
(Terravesta) The growing global bioeconomy has an indispensable role in tackling the climate crisis, and key to delivering a low carbon economy is securing enough supply of sustainable raw materials and linking them with a near-industrial scale of various bio-based products
November 20, 2020 Read Full Article
Study Confirms Contribution of Bioenergy to Climate Change Mitigation
by Elton Alisson (Agência FAPESP) ... Some argue, for example, that biofuels are not sustainable because the conversion of non-agricultural land to grow energy crops could lead to a significant initial decrease in carbon storage, creating what is known as a
November 19, 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
Switching to Switchgrass – Will DOE and USDA Funding Turn Switchgrass into a Rockstar Biofuel Feedstock?
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... So as we look for better biofuel feedstocks, we look at switchgrass because of new U.S. Department of Energy AND U.S. Department of Agriculture funding to study it for biofuels. Could it be
September 28, 2020 Read Full Article
Intensive Monoculture Is Putting Water Systems in Peril
(University of Birmingham) The global spread of vast forest plantations and agricultural monocultures are turning once diverse landscapes into areas of land supporting single plant species, with profound implications for our terrestrial water cycle, according to new research. A new paper
September 24, 2020 Read Full Article
Greener Flights from Greener Fields - Using Aviation Biofuel
(European Commission) Jet fuel from renewable sources holds the key to significantly reducing the environmental impact of aviation. EU-funded researchers have set out to boost Europe's production capacity, and are also developing a process that would leverage the growing of
September 14, 2020 Read Full Article
SUNY ESF Receives USDA Grant: Biomass Products Will Reinvigorate Abandoned Land
(SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry) SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), as a member of a mid-Atlantic consortium, has received $630,000 over five years from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to develop biomass systems and
September 04, 2020 Read Full Article
Department of Energy to Provide $68 Million for Bioenergy Crop Research
(Department of Energy) Studies Will Focus on Improving Crop Productivity and Resiliencen -- Today (July 28, 2020) the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $68 million in funding over five years for basic research aimed at making bioenergy feedstock crops
July 29, 2020 Read Full Article
Save the Rainforests, Use Degraded Land AND Produce Fuel and Food? Soleá Looks at How Macaúba Could Solve Many Problems
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... Macaúba is known for its high productivity and adaptability to the most adverse climate conditions and even better, the fruit’s shell, pulp, endocarp, and almond can be converted into a range of food
June 29, 2020 Read Full Article
Without Advanced Renewable Fuels, EU Will Not Meet Climate Objectives
(Advance Fuel) Long-term policy support is crucial to the market rollout of RESfuels to remedy transport’s reliance on fossil fuels, leading European research institutes confirm. -- Transport makes up one-quarter of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Europe and is
June 25, 2020 Read Full Article
Biomass Fuels Can Significantly Mitigate Global Warming
(American Associates/Ben-Gurion University of the Negev/EurekAlert!) Biomass fuels derived from various grasses could significantly mitigate global warming by reducing carbon, according to a long-term field study by researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) and Michigan State University (MSU). In a
March 10, 2020 Read Full Article
New Framework for Biofuels Leaves Many Questions Unanswered
by (Business Maverick) The recently published Biofuels Regulatory Framework is an important step in the attempt to develop a national biofuel industry, but it is far from sufficient to ensure the full benefits of biofuels while minimising the risks. -- On
February 20, 2020 Read Full Article
Alternative Biofuel Could Help Tackle Pollution Problems
by Priyom Bose (AZO Cleantech) Recently, global warming and ways of preventing the effect of pollution in our environment, have been the most important topics of discussion. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, many countries have adopted the use of biofuels. ... Smart
January 17, 2020 Read Full Article
US-India Consortium for Development of Sustainable Advanced Lignocellulosic Biofuel Systems
by Vermerris, Wilfred; Ingram, Lonnie O.; O'Connor, George; Pullammanappallil, P.; Shanmugam, K. T.; Tong, Zhaohui; Wilkie, Anne; Jose, Shibu; Bardhan, Sougata; Kitchen, Newell; Fritschi, Felix; Alavalapati, Janaki; Quesada-Pineda, Henry J.; Smith, Robert; Lal, Pankaj ; Gan, Jianbang (University of Florida/U.S.
August 30, 2019 Read Full Article
Biofuel Offers a Solution to the World’s Renewable Energy Crisis
by Barclay Ballard (The New Economy) Solar cells and wind farms are commonly referenced in the fight against climate change, but there is another, often overlooked, form of energy production that is already playing a sizable role. Bioenergy, which includes both biomass
May 21, 2019 Read Full Article
The Secrets of Secretion: Isolating Eucalyptus Genes for Oils, Biofuel
(Michigan Technological University/Science Codex) What is the genetic basis for eucalyptus trees to produce that fragrant oil many of us associate with trips to the spa? Carsten Külheim, associate professor in Michigan Technological University's School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, has
May 10, 2019 Read Full Article
TerViva Raises $20 Million in Series D to Drive Product Development and Market Expansion
(TerViva/MarketWatch/PR NewsWire) Led by Ag Family Offices and Climate-Smart Investors, Funding Round Brings Ag-Tech Firm to $40 Million Raised for High-Yielding, Sustainable Plant Protein Product Development -- TerViva, an agriculture technology firm commercializing resilient pongamia trees that produce as much as ten
March 27, 2019 Read Full Article
Brazil’s GranBio Acquires USA’s American Process
by Helena Taveres Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... The acquisition of American Process Inc’s technologies, intellectual property portfolio and physical assets strengthens GranBio’s market position in the deployment of highly competitive industrial processes for conversion of biomass to renewable fuels, chemicals, and
March 18, 2019 Read Full Article
SMU Researcher Studying Purpose-Grown Biomass Crops
(Saint Mary's University/Canadian Biomass Magazine) Research into how poor-quality, marginal land can be used to produce biomass as a potential revenue stream for farmers underway at Saint Mary’s University received $1.2 million in funding from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s AgriScience program
March 08, 2019 Read Full Article
Potential Trade‐Offs of Employing Perennial Biomass Crops for the Bioeconomy in the EU by 2050: Impacts on Agricultural Markets in the EU and the World
(ResearchGate) Perennial biomass crops (PBC) are considered a crucial feedstock for sustainable biomass supply to the bioeconomy that compete less with food production compared to traditional crops. However, large‐scale development of PBC as a means to reach greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation
February 05, 2019 Read Full Article
Strategies for Growing Biomass for Fuel Can Have Economic, Ecological and Environmental Benefits
(University of California - Santa Barbara/Science Daily) In efforts to curb our use of greenhouse gas-generating fossil fuels, plant-based biofuels are among the top contenders as alternative liquid energy sources for transportation. However, strategies to produce high yields of biomass for
February 05, 2019 Read Full Article
The FORBIO Project: A Sustainable Alternative for Contaminated and Underutilized Lands
(Global Bioenergy Partnership) The FORBIO (Fostering Sustainable Feedstock Production for Advanced Biofuels on underutilized land in Europe) Project gave stakeholders in Italy, Germany and Ukraine a strategy for the market uptake of sustainable advanced bioenergy value chains. Through a thorough assessment
December 15, 2018 Read Full Article
Bamboo: A Sustainable Alternative for Bioenergy Production in Indonesia?
by Monica Evans (Forest News) Perennial plant grows well on degraded land, allows farmers to diversify income streams -- ... So, say researchers from Australia’s RMIT University and the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), it is crucial to start looking for other species that can
December 03, 2018 Read Full Article
More Sustainable: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide ABLC Guide to Intensification Response & Landscape Design in Bioenergy Production
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Many prominent bioenergy critiques are feedstock-focused — for example, iLUC (Searchinger et al. 2008), carbon debt. Marginal land strategies identify areas where energy crops likely have competitive advantage for productivity and/or conservation based on Biophysical characteristics
December 03, 2018 Read Full Article
Redesigning Poplar Trees to Take the Drought ... and the Salt and the Heat
(North American Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance) Poplar saplings being grown at the University of California Davis are not expected to survive the rigorous conditions simulating prolonged droughts and heat waves that are being imposed on them. But they are helping a
November 02, 2018 Read Full Article
Jet Fuel May Be Grown on Iconic Aussie Gum Trees
(Australian National University) Scientists are a step closer to using Australia's iconic gum trees to develop low-carbon renewable jet and missile fuel. Dr Carsten Kulheim from The Australian National University (ANU), a lead researcher in an international study published in Trends
September 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Answers for Your Questions about Biofuels, Renewable Chemicals, Biomass and More
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Tough questions asked at industry conferences, and elsewhere on the industry circuit. Q. We’ve heard a lot about carbon capture, but what about carbon capture and conversion (to a more soluble, transportable and storable form), for
November 27, 2015 Read Full Article
Energy Crops Could Cover Energy Demand in Surplus Agricultural Lands
(BioenergyCrops.com) A brand new study (2013) found that the projected energy demand (2035) in developing countries, can be covered with energy crops in surplus agricultural lands, then not competing with food production. The study, from the Department of Energy Technology, at Aalto
September 27, 2013 Read Full Article
Sustainable Bioenergy and Grasslands on the Edge
(Bioenergy Crops) There is an increasing interest worldwide on developing sustainable bioenergy alternatives for low competitive lands where food production profitability is scarce or where soils and climates are not suited for traditional activities or have no market access and
February 15, 2013 Read Full Article
Doing Corn Better and Doing Better than Corn for Biofuels: Recent Developments in the Field
by Ned Stowe (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) Like it or not, corn and corn ethanol production are large, established industries in the U.S. While they provide significant economic, energy, and environmental benefits for our society, they also come with
February 01, 2013 Read Full Article
Sustainable Bioenergy Production from Marginal Lands in the US Midwest
by Ilya Gelfand, Ritvik Sahajpal, Xuesong Zhang, R. César Izaurralde, Katherine L. Gross & G. Philip Robertson (Nature) ...An alternative is to grow lignocellulosic (cellulosic) crops on ‘marginal’ lands9. Cellulosic feedstocks can have positive environmental outcomes10, 11 and could make up a
January 18, 2013 Read Full Article
Using Manure To Mend Mine-Damaged Soils
(USDA Agricultural Research Service) From 1850 to 1950, the Tri-State Mining District of southwestern Missouri, southeastern Kansas, and northeastern Oklahoma produced 50 percent of the zinc and 10 percent of the lead in the United States. The last active mine
November 01, 2012 Read Full Article
Iowa State University-Led Group Awarded $25 Million Grant for Land Use, Biofuel Production Study
(Iowa State University) Now, an Iowa State University-based study over the next five years will examine whether a single, coordinated production system can address all of these concerns while making profits for producers. A multi-state, interdisciplinary team led by Ken Moore,
January 19, 2012 Read Full Article
Michigan's Loss, Alberta's Gain: Smoky Lake or High Prairie to House 66-Million-Litre Biodiesel Plant Starting in 2012
by Dave Cooper (Edmonton Journal) An innovative Michigan plant that could produce 66 million litres of biodiesel from sub-grade canola is about to be disassembled and readied for a move to Alberta this winter. The location will be either Smoky Lake