by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Cover crops have multiple benefits—soil health is the most important benefit. Can Cover crops be a material feedstock supply center for biofuels? Primary challenges to adoption are uncertainties in use of cover crops across states and
soil health
Back TO HOMEThe Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Sustainable Herbaceous Energy Crop Production in the Southeast US.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What is the potential for cellulosic bioenergy crop production? Cellulosic bioenergy crop production is a nascent industry in the U.S. and has the potential to supply 5% of U.S. energy demand while achieving increased carbon reduction.
October 25, 2024 Read Full Article
The 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
USDA Highlights Success of Historic Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities Initiative
(US Department of Agriculture) The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today celebrated the ongoing success of the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities, a historic and innovative funding opportunity that expands markets for commodities produced using climate-smart production methods. This effort is helping farmers,
October 21, 2024 Read Full Article
Punjab Aims to Meet 20 Per Cent Fuel Demand through Biofuels by 2035
(ChiniMandi) Chandigarh: Punjab is taking steps to become a national frontrunner in biofuel production, as the state government has announced the Punjab State Policy for Biofuels. This policy aims to fulfill 20 percent of the state’s total fuel demand through biofuels by
October 21, 2024 Read Full Article
Aman Arora Unveils Punjab State Policy for Biofuels, Says 50% Agri Waste to Be Used to Enhance Soil Content
(The Indian Express) The Cabinet Minister added that four projects with a total capacity of 85 tonne per day (TPD) of CBG are currently operational. -- Punjab is all set to emerge as a national leader in biofuel production, with the state
October 18, 2024 Read Full Article
Tim Walz Sets Ambitious Environmental Goals Amid Political Shift
by Evrim Ağacı (The Pinnacle Gazette) The Minnesota governor’s policies aim for sustainability and innovation as he tackles climate issues head-on, signaling potential changes on the national stage. -- ... His progressive environmental stance and innovative policies have sparked discussions about sustainable
August 15, 2024 Read Full Article
Truterra Dips into Dairy with Launch of Summer Programs
(Truterra/AgNewsWire) Carbon program created specifically for dairy producers among options to help farmers adopt climate-smart practices -- Truterra, a leading agricultural sustainability business that works with farmers to help improve the environmental impact of agricultural production while working to create incremental
August 15, 2024 Read Full Article
Minnesota Governor Was a Climate Champion even before He Called Trump ‘Weird’
by Adam Aton (Politico Pro Climatewire) Tim Walz has turned a slim majority in the state Legislature into a launchpad for bold climate policies. -- After Minnesota Democrats defied midterm expectations and won narrow control of state government, it took Gov. Tim
August 06, 2024 Read Full Article
Opinion: Collaboration with Farmers Is Essential to Building America’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel Market
by Mitchell Hora (Continuum Ag/Americans for Clean Aviation Fuels/Agri-Pulse) American farmers are ready to make the United States the world’s leading producer of sustainable aviation fuel, which currently represents the most promising pathway to achieving net zero carbon emissions in aviation.
July 19, 2024 Read Full Article
Procedures for Quantification, Reporting, and Verification of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Associated with the Production of Domestic Agricultural Commodities Used as Biofuel Feedstocks DEADLINE July 25, 2024
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking public input on procedures for the quantification, reporting, and verification of the effect of climate-smart farming practices on the greenhouse gas (GHG) net emissions estimates associated with the production of
July 09, 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
New Alliance Champions Intermediate Oilseed Crops for U.S. Biofuel Boom
by Treena Hein (Seed World) The Intermediate Oilseed Crop Alliance (IOCA), advocates for sustainable crops such as pennycress and camelina to meet rising biofuel demands and support environmental goals. In response to the growing global and U.S. demand for significantly higher biofuel
June 12, 2024 Read Full Article
TopSoil Webinars , Including Carbon Intensity Series
(Continuum Ag) TopSoil Webinars are an opportunity for you to educate yourself as Mitchell and other Continuum Ag Representatives sit down with industry leaders to dig into the hottest topics in Agriculture including Carbon Intensity, Soil Health & Precision Ag. One of
April 09, 2024 Read Full Article
Sustainable Aviation Fuel Won’t Short Food Supply, Manufacturers Say
by Sean Prattt (Manitoba Cooperator/Glacier Farm Media) Manufacturers of sustainable aviation fuel say the increase in light duty electric vehicles has created an ethanol surplus -- Sustainable aviation fuel manufacturers say they won’t compromise food supplies despite consuming large volumes of agricultural
April 02, 2024 Read Full Article
Nuseed Targets Cotton Regions for Carinata Trials
by Emma Alsop (Grain Central) Australia's cotton-growing regions are being targeted for trials to grow the non-edible renewable fuel feedstock crop, carinata. Nuseed, the seed division of Australian agricultural chemical company Nufarm, is eyeing trials of carinata this year, according to general
March 27, 2024 Read Full Article
EU Policy. Commission Backs Use of Farmland for Aviation Fuel Production
by Robert Hodgson (euronews.green) In a bid to cut the climate impact of flying, the European Commission says agricultural land can be used for aviation biofuel production, providng it does not interfere with food and feed production or damage soils. But
March 19, 2024 Read Full Article
Bartlett and Regrow Partner to Advance Sustainability Commitments
(Bartlett/Regrow/Globe Newswire) Diverse Agribusiness Will Utilize Regrow’s Platform for Soybean Program -- Regrow Ag, the Agriculture Resilience Platform provider, and Bartlett, a Savage Company, today announced their partnership to advance sustainability commitments. The Regrow platform supports rigorous Scope 3 emissions analysis, and the
March 13, 2024 Read Full Article
Golden Fields, Growing Opportunities for Farmers: Nuseed Enhances Productivity and Sustainability through Expansion of Value-Added Seed Solutions
(Nuseed/Globe Newswire) Nuseed, an innovator in delivering VALUE BEYOND YIELD® from farmers to end users, proudly announces the broad expansion of its rapidly growing Nuseed Carinata and Omega-3 Canola Production System value-added contract programs for 2024 planting. Nuseed Carinata, a game-changing
March 13, 2024 Read Full Article
Bayer Announces 2024 Carbon Program, Expanding Opportunities
by Margy Eckelkamp (AgWeb) For the coming year the Bayer Carbon Program highlights six expanded opportunities for farmers to enroll in the program and earn incentives for regenerative practices. The company structures its program around practices to sequester carbon and promote
March 06, 2024 Read Full Article
Want Farm-Level Data? Answer These Three Questions First, Experts Say
by Kristin Leigh Lore (Trust in Food) Understanding farmers’ perspectives, motivations and values can help accelerate the data sharing needed to quantify and scale climate-smart agriculture in the U.S. -- As more points in the value chain seek production data, it’s still
March 06, 2024 Read Full Article
EcoFABs Could Lead to Better Bioenergy Crops
by Will Ferguson (Berkeley Lab) A greater understanding of how plants and microbes work together to store vast amounts of atmospheric carbon in the soil will help in the design of better bioenergy crops for the fight against climate change. Deciphering the
March 05, 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
Soil Carbon Capture Sequestration, Low Carbon Intensity Scores and the Small Water Cycle: The Symbiotic Connection
by Joel Stone (LEC Partners/Biofuels Digest) Soil Carbon Capture Sequestration (SCCS), low carbon intensity (low CI) scores and the Small Water Cycle are connected through various ecological and hydrological processes that occur within terrestrial ecosystems. SCCS refers to the process of
March 04, 2024 Read Full Article
OPINION: Why Farmers Should Take Advantage of Climate-Smart Ag Programs
by Chandler Mazour (Verity Carbon Solutions/Houston Daily) ... From a changing climate to high input costs to fluctuating commodity prices, farmers must take steps to adapt to an evolving landscape. The good news is farmers don’t have to tackle these challenges alone.
February 28, 2024 Read Full Article
USDA Investing $25 Million in ACE-led Project to Incentivize, Model, and Monetize Climate-Smart Ag Practices in a 10-State Region
(American Coalition for Ethanol) The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) recently approved a $25 million investment in the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE)-led Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) expansion that builds on the successful South
February 27, 2024 Read Full Article
New Study Shows US Soybean’s Carbon Footprint Decreasing
(Seed World) Assessment shows a significant reduction in soybean industry’s global warming potential since 2010 and 2015 -- The United Soybean Board detailed a recent Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) that revealed a significant reduction in the global warming potential (GWP) profile of
February 26, 2024 Read Full Article
Have You Heard of Scope 3? It Offers Opportunity for Agriculture
by Heather Gieseke (Pinion/Drovers) You might have heard the term Scope 3 thrown around. It’s all the buzz lately in the world of sustainability. But what does it mean? A company’s emissions are broken down into Scopes 1, 2 and 3. This
February 22, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Windfall Bio
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Founded in 2023, Windfall Bio is developing the first-ever solution for capturing and transforming climate-harming methane emissions into living organic soil nutrients. CEO Josh Silverman gave this presentation at ABLC Next 2023 on the targets, the team, the
February 14, 2024 Read Full Article
How Much Carbon Can Farmers Store in Their Soil? Nobody’s Sure.
by Max Graham (Grist) Advocates say the long-awaited farm bill could help fix that. -- ... If America’s growers and herders made sure the carbon on their land stayed underneath their crops and their cows’ hooves, then some scientists say the planet
February 13, 2024 Read Full Article
Indian Biogas Association Pitches for Rs 30k cr Investment for Compressed Biogas Plants
(PTI/Financial Express) “Utilising agricultural residues like paddy straw for bioenergy production and soil enrichment instead of burning those offers a dual benefit as it provides renewable energy sources while enhancing soil health,” said Indian Biogas Association Chairman Gaurav Kedia. Indian Biogas Association
February 13, 2024 Read Full Article
Share Your Thoughts: USDA Asks for Public Comments on 8 Changes to the National Handbook of Conservation Practices DEADLINE March 4, 2024
by Charlsie McKay (RFD TV) Stakeholders are encouraged to submit comments by March 4, 2024, either online or by mail. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is inviting public feedback on proposed revisions to eight national conservation practice
February 13, 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
Have You Heard of Scope 3? It Offers Opportunity for Agriculture
by Heather Gieseke (AgWeb/Pinion) You might have heard the term Scope 3 thrown around. It’s all the buzz lately in the world of sustainability. But what does it mean? A company’s emissions are broken down into Scopes 1, 2 and 3. This
February 09, 2024 Read Full Article
Free Classroom Curriculum Resources from GrowNextGen
(GrowNextGen) Explore, download and share these proven real-world educational resources to help bring science and agriculture to life in your classroom. Relevant and engaging, you’ll find useful, easy-to-implement lesson plans and activities. GrowNextGen was launched in 2014 with funding from the Ohio
January 23, 2024 Read Full Article
McClellan, Lawler Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Coordinate Federal Soil Carbon Sequestration Efforts
(Office of Representatives Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04)) Representatives Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04) and Mike Lawler (R-NY-17) introduced the bipartisan Coordination for Soil Carbon Research and Monitoring Act to empower the federal government to support interagency work around soil carbon sequestration research and monitoring. Soil carbon sequestration, also known
January 05, 2024 Read Full Article
Terviva Announces Strategic Partnership with Mitsubishi Corporation
(Terviva/Newswire) With Mitsubishi Corporation’s partnership, Terviva marks a key milestone in the advancement of a pongamia tree-based business platform that sinks carbon, improves small-holder livelihoods, and creates a new source for biofuel and food. -- Terviva, an agriculture innovation company, is pleased
December 15, 2023 Read Full Article
Gevo to Pay Farmers Incentives under Farm-to-Flight Program
by Jonathan Welsh (Flying Magazine) Three-tiered incentive system aims to cut carbon intensity. -- Gevo Inc. said it plans to offer incentives to farmers under its Farm-to-Flight Program in an effort to boost production of sustainable fuels, including ethanol and sustainable aviation
December 15, 2023 Read Full Article
Bold Actions to Accelerate the Bioeconomy: Report from Ottawa Meet-up of the Bold Goals Action Group
by Jim Lane (REenergize the Gulf Coast) In Ottawa, on the sidelines of the Jeff Passmore’s SCALING UP meeting, a coalition of the willing known as the Bold Goals Action Group refined and amended a series of 37 Bold Actions that must be
December 05, 2023 Read Full Article
Carbon Intensity Chit Chat --- Tuesdays --- ONLINE
Starting Tuesday, November 28, Continuum Ag's CEO & Founder Mitchell Hora and Director of Sales Chad Scebold will answer your questions every Tuesday morning from 7:45 - 8:15 AM CST. CI Chit Chat is a weekly morning talk show that will provide
November 29, 2023 Read Full Article
Continuum Ag Launches the Billion Bushel Challenge
(Continuum Ag) Empowering Visibility, Control and Rewards with Low Carbon Grain Needed for BioFuel Production -- With an estimated 6 Billion Bushels being used for Ethanol production next year, Continuum Ag has set their sights on helping the industry SCORE (Carbon Intensity Score) over
November 29, 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
Bold Actions to Accelerate the Bioeconomy: Findings from the Bold Goals Action Group
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In San Francisco on the sidelines of the ABLC NEXT 2023 meeting, a coalition of the willing called the Bold Goals Action Group outlined a series of 31 Bold Actions that must be taken by industry
October 31, 2023 Read Full Article
Alder Renewables Unlocks Carbon-Negative SAF via Miscanthus Breakthrough
by Tim Obitts and Derek Vardon (Alder Renewables/Biofuels Digest) • Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) produced from miscanthus Alder Renewable Crude (ARC) can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 110% compared to conventional fossil jet fuel.* A purpose-grown energy crop, miscanthus can store roughly half
October 18, 2023 Read Full Article
American Vanguard Releases 2023 Corporate Sustainability Report: New Detailed Report Reemphasizes Company’s Commitment to Sustainable Agriculture
(American Vanguard) American Vanguard Corporation (NYSE: AVD) is pleased to announce the release of its 2023 Corporate Sustainability Report, a detailed update of the Company’s commitment to the principles of Sustainable Agriculture, which is at the center of its Environmental, Social
September 19, 2023 Read Full Article
Camelina’s Hour Syngenta, Sustainable Oils Hook-up
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) From Illinois comes news that Syngenta Seeds and Sustainable Oils have inked a deal to sell Camelina seed – an ultra-low carbon oilseed crop that can be used as feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel and renewable
August 29, 2023 Read Full Article
Farmers Need Incentives to Overcome Risks of Adopting Climate-Smart Agriculture Practices
(Solutions from the Lane) Change is not easy, especially when it involves financial risk. That’s the situation farmers and ranchers find themselves in when considering innovative, climate-smart agricultural practices. Sure, in the long run, many farmers find that adopting practices like
August 22, 2023 Read Full Article
Farmers, Educators Are Allies in Climate-Smart Agriculture
(Solutions from the Land) ... As co-developer and leader of the Cornell Climate Smart Farming program, (Allison) Chatrchyan is developing powerful and user-friendly tools to help farmers in the Northeast better see how climate change is expected to affect them and what
June 14, 2023 Read Full Article
BETO Launches New Renewable Carbon Resources Web Page
by Lynn L. Bergeson and Carla N. Hutton (B&C Biobased and Sustainable Chemicals Blog) The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) has launched a new, comprehensive web page dedicated to one of its priority subprograms, Renewable Carbon Resources (RCR), which
June 08, 2023 Read Full Article
World’s Largest Soil Archive Brings History to Life
by Jenna Hoffman (AgWeb) In 2018, a barn on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) main campus was set to be demolished. On demo day, Andrew Margenot, associate professor of soil sciences, walked into the dusty, dilapidated barn to size up
June 07, 2023 Read Full Article
Bayer Carbon
by Chelsea Dinterman (Successful Farming) Part of its ForGround platform, Bayer’s carbon program aims to connect growers to benefits and opportunities. About the program: Eligible practice changes include strip-till, no-till, and cover crops Minimum field size: 10 acres with no maximum Practice-based payments 10-year contract
June 02, 2023 Read Full Article
Global Clean Energy Signs $30 Million USDA Climate-Smart Commodities Grant Kickstarting Implementation of the Climate-Smart Camelina Project
(Global Clean Energy) Global Clean Energy Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB:GCEH) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) have signed a contract for the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities Grant for their Climate-Smart Camelina Project. With the signing, work can officially begin on their $30 million
June 01, 2023 Read Full Article
Sequestration in the Field
by Katie Schroeder (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Carbon intensity scores determine, in part, the value producers get for each gallon of ethanol they produce. Today’s CI calculations don’t factor in low-carbon farming practices, but industry leaders like Brian Jennings are determined
May 13, 2023 Read Full Article
Southern States First to Harvest Nuseed Carinata Cover Crop for Bioenergy
(Nuseed) Nuseed Carinata harvest is underway in the southern United States, starting near Tifton, Georgia. Nuseed has been working with growers in Florida, Georgia, and Texas to increase the sustainable contract production of the non-food oilseed for processing into certified sustainable
May 12, 2023 Read Full Article
Can We Pack our Waste Carbon into the Soil?
(Biofuels Digest) Waste carbon, where is it going go? Few say “vent it in the sky” any more, some day stuff it down a cavern. Recently, more and more people talk about storing carbon in the soil, and restoring the soil.
May 04, 2023 Read Full Article
South Dakota Corn Will Be Used to Create Sustainable Aviation Fuel
by Ariana Schumacher (West Central Tribune) Gevo plant will produce sustainable biofuel for jets in Lake Preston, South Dakota. -- ... Gevo, a company making biofuel for jets, broke ground on its first commercial scale sustainable aviation fuel facility, Net-Zero 1, in Lake
April 24, 2023 Read Full Article
Playing and Painting to Promote Science: Board Games and Art Teach Conservation
by Grace Marie Finnell-Gudwien (Planet Forward) It’s board game night. You’re sitting around a table with some of your friends, ready to play the colorful board game laid out in front of you. You all pick your characters and deal out
April 05, 2023 Read Full Article
Gevo Enters Joint Development Agreement with Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy to Measure, Report & Verify Carbon Intensity
(Gevo) Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEVO) announced today that it has entered into a joint development agreement with Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy (SIRE) to measure, report and verify carbon intensity (CI) through the entire value chain, inclusive of climate-smart agriculture practices to
March 17, 2023 Read Full Article
US Farmers Are Getting Paid More for Capturing Carbon in Fields
by Michael Hirtzer (Bloomberg Green) The credits are sold to companies seeking to reduce emissions. -- Capturing carbon on the farm could be starting to pay off as Indigo Ag doubles the price it offers for planet-friendly growing practices. Boston-based Indigo Ag said Thursday
February 24, 2023 Read Full Article
The 2023 Farm Bill Should Be a Climate Bill, Democrats Say
by Maxine Joselow (Washington Post) These House Democrats want the farm bill to be a ‘huge climate win' -- ... Rather, the farm bill — the five-year reauthorization of hundreds of billions of dollars in agriculture and food programs —
February 16, 2023 Read Full Article
Yield10 Bioscience and Mitsubishi Corporation Sign MOU to Evaluate the Establishment of a Partnership to Supply, Offtake and Market Camelina as a Feedstock Oil for Biofuel
(Yield10) Yield10 Bioscience, Inc. (Nasdaq:YTEN) (“Yield10” or the “Company”), an agricultural bioscience company, today announced that it has signed with Mitsubishi Corporation (“Mitsubishi”) a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) to evaluate the establishment of a partnership to supply, offtake and market Camelina
February 01, 2023 Read Full Article
Notice of Public Comment Period for the Biofuels and the Environment: Third Triennial Report to Congress External Review Draft Public Comments DEADLINE March 6, 2023
(Environmental Protection Agency/Federal Register) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the public comment period for the draft document titled, “Biofuels and the Environment: Third Triennial Report to Congress (External Review Draft).” The document was prepared by EPA's Office of
January 04, 2023 Read Full Article
ACE Submits Comments to USDA on Climate-Smart Farming Practices
( American Coalition for Ethanol /Ethanol Producer Magazine) The American Coalition for Ethanol submitted feedback to the USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service request for public input on implementation of funding in the Inflation Reduction Act for key NRCS conservation programs to
December 30, 2022 Read Full Article
Truterra and Soil and Water Conservation Society-led Research Demonstrates Value of Cover Crops for the Environment
(Truterra/AgNewsWire) On-farm trials in Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska[1] were net-carbon negative[2], cut erosion in half -- Truterra, LLC, the sustainability business of Land O’Lakes, Inc., and the Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) announced preliminary findings from the first of a
December 21, 2022 Read Full Article
Illinois Should Do More to Take Advantage of Affordable,Clean Energy through Ethanol
by Steffen Mueller (Chicago Sun-Times/Univesity of Illinois at Chicago) Using higher blends of ethanol is the kind of innovative solution we need now to address our energy and environmental challenges together. -- ... But one of the most promising, effective,
November 22, 2022 Read Full Article
Circular Systems Make Sense for Iowa Farms
(Solutions from the Land) ... IASA’s vision is to manage Iowa’s working landscapes to safely and sustainably provide an abundance of food, feed, fiber, and fuel, while protecting and building health in our soil; filtering and storing water; sequestering carbon and
November 21, 2022 Read Full Article
Big Agriculture Warns Farming Must Change or Risk ‘Destroying the Planet’
by Dominic Rushe (The Guardian) Report sponsored by some of the largest food and farming businesses finds pace of shift to sustainable practices too slow -- Food companies and governments must come together immediately to change the world’s agricultural practices or
November 07, 2022 Read Full Article
See What Producers Are Saying about The Carbon Ecosystem and ‘Ag Carbon Markets and U.S. Farmers’ Report
by Cara Urban (Trust in Food) Trust In Food’s latest report, Ready or Not? Agricultural Carbon Markets and U.S. Farmers, is meant as a showcase of how research and data can suggest solutions to help scale carbon market participation—and how those insights,
November 02, 2022 Read Full Article
Flip Your Soil: How Do Farmers Get Started Implementing Soil Health Practices on Their Farms?
by Michelle Rook (AgWeb) Farmers realize the benefits of improving soil health on their farm. However, sometimes they just need help implementing some of the practices. Mitchell Hora, agronomist and CEO of Continuum Ag, says farmers need to keep the principles of
October 18, 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
USDA to Invest $8 Million to Expand Monitoring of Soil Carbon DEADLINE November 28, 2022
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) plans to invest $8 million to support and expand monitoring of carbon in soil on working agricultural lands as well as assess how climate-smart practices are affecting carbon sequestration. This is
October 04, 2022 Read Full Article
Grassley Introduces Bipartisan Biochar Research Network Act
(Office of Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA)) Bill seeks to explore agricultural, environmental benefits of biochar -- Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a family farmer and member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, was joined by Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and
September 22, 2022 Read Full Article
Directional Aviation Invests in Alder Fuels
(Directional Aviation/Biobased Diesel Daily) Private aviation investment firm Directional Aviation announced Sept. 15 that it is making a financial investment in Alder Fuels, a clean-tech developer and green-crude producer. As part of the agreement, the two companies also will pilot a
September 20, 2022 Read Full Article
USDA Picks 70 Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities in Historic $2.8B Investment
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) News has arrived from Washington that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing up to $2.8 billion in 70 projects under the first pool of the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities funding opportunity. It’s become the US Department of Action,
September 20, 2022 Read Full Article
The Tractor Seller Trying to Get Farmers to Embrace Sustainability
by Debra Kahn (Politico) ... Madelyn Koester is a senior project manager on John Deere's sustainability team. She isn't on the equipment side; she works for Deere's digital arm, which is exploring how to make it easier and more attractive for
August 30, 2022 Read Full Article
USDA Searching for Innovations in Climate-Smart Agriculture and Soil Health DEADLINE: September 22, 2022
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today it will invest $25 million this year for the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials program. Through CIG, partners work to address our nation's water quality, water quantity,
August 25, 2022 Read Full Article
Maybe This Time: Aries Clean Technologies Hits a Milestone in the Never-Ending Battle for a Great Biochar Business
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... You can finance a bioenergy project making gases and solids, so long as your gas is a solid stream, and, solidly sold, and your market for solids is liquid, and your liquidity is solid.
August 22, 2022 Read Full Article
California Considers ‘Carbon Farming’ as a Potential Climate Solution. Ardent Proponents, and Skeptics, Abound
by Emma Foehringer Merchant (Inside Climate News) Supporters of pending legislation see it as an important step toward meeting the state’s climate goals while using its ample farmland. But critics say natural carbon sequestration is hard to measure and verify. --
June 20, 2022 Read Full Article
Soil Health Institute's 7th Annual Meeting: Scaling Up Soil Health --- August 11-12, 2022 --- ONLINE
Session Topics will include: SHI’s Recommended Measurements for Assessing Soil Health at Scale: Scientific Basis and Practical Application Farmers’ Experiences with Adopting Soil Health Systems Engaging Commodities for Scaling Regenerative Soil Health Systems Climate Change Mitigation through Soil Health: Integrating Local to Global Initiatives Creating
June 15, 2022 Read Full Article
AD Happenings In Washington State
(BioCycle Magazine) Keep an eye on Washington State in 2022, as several significant developments are anticipated in the anaerobic digestion space. First is the rulemaking underway by the Washington Department of Ecology to implement the state’s Clean Fuel Standard. The law,
June 07, 2022 Read Full Article
India Achieved 10% Ethanol Blending Target in Petrol Months ahead of Schedule: PM Modi
(India Express News Service) Speaking on World Environment Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that while the global average for carbon emissions per person is four tonnes, for Indians it is only around half a tonne per year. -- India has
June 06, 2022 Read Full Article
Solving Today’s Ag Challenges: The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to FFAR
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research builds public-private partnerships and funds pioneering research focusing on key challenge areas like next generation crops, soil health, advanced animal systems, sustainable water management, and more. Find out
May 20, 2022 Read Full Article
Low Carbon Cover Crop, Cash Crop: The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to CoverCress
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) At ABLC this spring, Mike DeCamp, CEO of CoverCress shared this emerging seed technology slide guide all about a novel winter oilseed crop that enables Midwest farmers to grow three crops in two seasons! With
May 04, 2022 Read Full Article
Bunge and CoverCress Inc. Announce Commercial Partnership to Meet Growing Demand for Renewable Fuel Feedstocks
(Bunge/CoverCress/Business Wire) Bunge, Chevron Make New Investments in CoverCress Inc. -- Bunge (NYSE: BG) and CoverCress Inc. (“CCI”) announced today a unique commercial partnership to bring a new renewable oilseed and animal feed crop to market. The agreement establishes a long-term
April 29, 2022 Read Full Article
ISU Team Receives XPRIZE Carbon Removal Milestone Award for Innovative Vision to Remove Carbon from the Atmosphere
(Iowa State University) An Iowa State University research team that helped develop a demonstration-scale pyrolyzer capable of sequestering thousands of tons of carbon dioxide a year has received a prestigious milestone award from XPRIZE Carbon Removal, it was announced on
April 26, 2022 Read Full Article
Workshop: Bioenergy’s Role in Soil Carbon Storage
(U.S. Department of Energy) What is the role of bioenergy in soil carbon storage? Bioenergy provides a powerful way to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, increase carbon storage in soils, and produce sustainable biomass feedstocks. On March 28–29, 2022, the U.S. Department
April 15, 2022 Read Full Article
Competitive Edge: AlgEternal Technologies, LLC
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)... The world desperately needs an alternative to fossil hydrocarbons. AlgEternal (www.algeternal.com) solves this problem by growing microalgae at scale faster, more reliably, cleaner and at a lower cost for use as alternative feedstock in multiple
March 25, 2022 Read Full Article
Soil Carbon Moonshot: Grounding Carbon Storage in Science
(Carbon 180) By focusing on our soils, the US can radically transform the agriculture sector’s relationship to climate change. Yet today’s efforts to promote healthy soils are deeply fragmented. The Soil Carbon Moonshot is a five-year proposal for a coordinated,
March 22, 2022 Read Full Article
ABLC 2022 – State of the Industry
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ABLC’s theme of “Dawn of Net Zero” and hundreds of delegates from organizations all over the world grappling with the immense opportunities and supply chain challenges posed by the world’s rapid turn towards charting
March 17, 2022 Read Full Article
Soil Carbon Moonshot: Grounding Carbon Storage in Science
by Cristel Zoebisch (Carbon 180) One giant leap for soil carbon - Farmers and ranchers play a central role in the health of our climate and planet. Today, they face more and more pressure from climate change, and one solution — soil
March 04, 2022 Read Full Article
2022 Carbon Removal Forum: Focus on Soil Carbon Measurement --- April 22, 2022 --- ONLINE
The Carbon Removal Forum is the second in a series of campus-wide events to harness knowledge and capacity toward developing an Iowa State University program in agriculturally-based carbon removal that could contribute toward mitigating climate change. This year's forum will
March 04, 2022 Read Full Article
ACE, Industry Groups Encourge CARB to Recognize Climate-Smart Farming Practices in Low Carbon Fuel Standard
(American Coalition for Ethanol) In a cosigned letter, the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), along with the Great Plains Institute, Low Carbon Fuels Coalition, the National Biodiesel Board, and Canadian Oilseed Processors Association, recommended the California Air Resources Board (CARB) recognize the
January 16, 2022 Read Full Article
Carinata Cover Crops: The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to Nuseed
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Where are the opportunities for cover cropping? How can non-food, non-GMO, RSB-certified carinata make a difference? How can it be used for oil/fuel and high protein meal? Is it scalable globally? Check out this slide
January 14, 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
Carbon Negative Biofuels Can Build Soil and Rural Prosperity
by Chuck Hassebrook, David Laird and Jill Euken (The Gazette) ... That pathway is the Pyrolysis-Biochar-Bioenergy Platform, which produces biofuel and biochar by heating crop residue, grass, wood or other forms of biomass in the absence of oxygen. Biochar is a
January 10, 2022 Read Full Article
Off-Season 'Cover' Crops Expand as U.S. Growers Eye Low-Carbon Future
by Karl Plume (Reuters) ... The purpose of cover crops is to restore soil, reduce erosion and to pull climate-warming carbon from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. The carbon trapped in roots and other plant matter left in the soil is measured
January 04, 2022 Read Full Article
Cover Crop Series Articles
(Agri-Pulse)1. Saving the planet by saving the soil: Can cover crops fulfill their promise? 2. Making cover crops pay off: what it takes to cover the cost 3. Cover crops as cash crops: Farmers angle to profit off the practice 4. Direct checks could ignite cover
December 29, 2021 Read Full Article
Biofuel Producer Bets on Camelina as Low-Carbon Feedstock
by Amy Mayer (Agri-Pulse) A minor oilseed may be poised to take on a larger role as climate-smart policies emphasize low carbon fuels and the soil health benefits of cover crops. Camelina is seen by some as a cover crop that
December 29, 2021 Read Full Article
Mustard Plant Jet Fuel Could Reduce Emissions by 68 Percent
by Puneet Dwivedi (University of Georgia/U.S. Department of Agriculture) ... Carinata (Brassica Carinata), also known as Ethiopian mustard, is an oilseed crop that can be grown across the southern U.S. during winter months. The oil obtained from crushed carinata seeds can
December 10, 2021 Read Full Article
Truterra Carbon Program Pays $4 Million to Farmers for 200,000 Metric Tons of Carbon Stored in First Year; 2022 Program Now Open
(Truterra) In 2022, Truterra will offer two approaches, one to reward recent adopters for their investment in carbon-sequestering practices and one to engage and support farmers through the process of implementing new practices Through Truterra, companies and others looking to buy carbon
December 06, 2021 Read Full Article
New Report Highlights Biomethane Ramp-up and Best Pathways for Full Renewable Gas Deployment
(European Biogas Association) By 2050, 30 to 40 % of Europe’s total gas consumption could be made up of sustainable biomethane, according to the 11th edition of the Statistical Report launched today by the European Biogas Association. The report provides an
November 29, 2021 Read Full Article
Bioenergy for Net Zero Means Opportunities for Farmers
(Terravesta) Support for UK bioenergy is gathering pace. On Energy Day at COP26, the government issued a Biomass Policy Statement (BPS) which recognises the role bioenergy plays in delivering both global and UK net zero targets. It’s been issued alongside the recent biomass
November 29, 2021 Read Full Article
ACE Supports Policies to Credit Ag, Biofuels for Net-Zero GHGs
(American Coalition for Ethanol/Ethanol Producer Magazine) During its Nov. 10 meeting, the American Coalition for Ethanol board of directors voted to support new policies that credit farmers and ethanol producers for activities helping ethanol reach net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by
November 23, 2021 Read Full Article
Bioenergy Devo Closes on $100 Million in New Capital
(Bioenergy Devo/Biomass Magazine) Bioenergy Devco (BDC), the leading global developer of anaerobic digestion (AD) facilities that transform organic waste into renewable energy and healthy soil products, today announced it has secured $100 million in financing from funds managed by Irradiant
November 17, 2021 Read Full Article
Dollars in the Dirt: Big Ag Pays Farmers for Control of their Soil-Bound Carbon
by Rod Nickel and Karl Plume (Reuters) The biggest global agriculture companies are competing on a new front: enticing farmers to join programs that keep atmosphere-warming carbon dioxide in the soil. Fertilizer producers Nutrien Ltd (NTR.TO) and Yara (YAR.OL), agribusiness giant Cargill Inc (CARG.UL), and
October 25, 2021 Read Full Article
Biocontrols as the Pivot Point in the Push for Sustainable Ag Practices
by Patrice Sellès (Biotalys/Biofuels Digest) ... Delivering the “sustainability trifecta” – i.e., a lower emissions footprint, equal or better efficacy rates than conventional crop protection solutions, and overall financial value – the integration of biocontrol solutions into sustainable ag efforts will
October 19, 2021 Read Full Article
Degradation of Biobased Plastics in the Soil
(Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research) The idea of biodegradable plastics sounds good at first. However, very little is known about how they are degraded in the soil and how this is influenced by climate change. In two recent studies, soil ecologists
October 15, 2021 Read Full Article
Pluton Biosciences Gets $6.6M in Seed Funding, Bayer AG Soil Deal and More
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Pluton is a large body of intrusive igneous rock according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, and “breaking ground” and being “ground breaking” is just what Pluton Biosciences is doing with their novel microbes. They are making
October 11, 2021 Read Full Article
USDA Announces More Than $146M Investment in Sustainable Agricultural Research
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today an investment of more than $146 million in sustainable agricultural research projects aimed at improving a robust, resilient, climate-smart food and agricultural system. This investment is made under
October 07, 2021 Read Full Article
USDA Investing $75 million in Partner-Led Projects with Focus on Climate-Smart Ag, Equity in Program Delivery
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest nearly $75 million for 15 partner-led projects to address natural resource concerns on private lands. This year, projects funded by the Regional Conservation Partnership Program’s (RCPP) Alternative Funding Arrangements
September 27, 2021 Read Full Article
Connections: Saying Goodbye to a Soil Organic Matter Fundamental
by Sally Brown (BioCycle Magazine) ... This fuller understanding of how SOM (soil organic carbon) operates in no way takes away the importance of soils as a tool for carbon storage. Rather it suggests that policies based on burying and
September 08, 2021 Read Full Article
He Says It’s Not about Climate. So Why Is Bill Gates Investing in Farmland?
by Rebecca Bauer (Farm Together/AgFunder Network) For many investors, farmland was not on the radar as an investable asset class until earlier this year, when it was revealed that the largest owners of US farmland were none other than Bill and Melinda
September 04, 2021 Read Full Article
Lawmakers from Both Parties Call for Investment in Ag as a Climate Solution
(North America Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance) Thirty lawmakers from both houses of Congress have written a letter urging House and Senate leadership to support an historic, long-term investment in farmers, ranchers and rural communities as a part of upcoming infrastructure and
August 06, 2021 Read Full Article
Harder Introduces Landmark Legislation to Help Farmers Lead on Climate Change
(Office of Representative Josh Harder (R-CA 10th) Bill will establish billions in new initiatives to support the efforts of the agriculture industry in leading the way on climate -- Representative Josh Harder (CA-10) reintroduced his Future of Agricultural Resiliency and Modernization (FARM)
August 02, 2021 Read Full Article
Can New Technology Incentivize Farmers to Capture Carbon in Their Soil?
by Michael Sterenberg (Columbia Climate School State of the Planet) The Scenic Hudson Soil Lab is a rather unassuming structure. Sitting atop a hemp farm within New York’s Hudson River Valley, the lab is unadorned, and no bigger than a roadside
July 28, 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
Carinata Now a Listed Feedstock for CORSIA Sustainable Aviation Fuel
(Nuseed/Biobased Diesel Daily) A recent update by the International Civil Aviation Organization now includes carinata as a renewable fuel feedstock with a similar greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint as waste and residuals, like used cooking oil. “For sustainability being categorized with waste is
May 21, 2021 Read Full Article
Feedstock Development, Production, Management: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to USDA’s Feedstock Innovations
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) From switchgrass, sorghum or sugarcane, feedstock development, genomics, and crops improvement abound with USDA’s help at the Biomass Research Center. Rob Mitchell, Research Leader and Research Agronomist at USDA ARS, shares all about the latest
March 26, 2021 Read Full Article
Vilsack: US Carbon Market Needs a Focus on Farmers
by Bill Tomson (Agri-Pulse) A priority for the USDA in the coming years will be judging the feasibility of setting up, executing and paying for a federal carbon bank to help farmers reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reward them for their
March 23, 2021 Read Full Article
Characteristics of the Soil in Biofuel Crop Fields Affect Its Potential to Store Carbon
(NewsWise) Microbiome and soil chemistry at long-term bioenergy research sites challenge the idea that switchgrass increases carbon accrual in surface soils on marginal lands. -- In this study, researchers characterized the influence of crop and site on fungal and bacterial
March 16, 2021 Read Full Article
Land O'Lakes Sustainability Business Truterra Launches TruCarbon™, the First Farmer-Owned Carbon Program
(Truterra/PR Newswire) TruCarbon Promises Streamlined Experience for Farmers; Novel Approach for Buyers to Incentivize Change at Scale; TruCarbon Launching With Microsoft as First Secured Buyer -- Truterra, LLC, the sustainability business and subsidiary of Land O'Lakes, Inc., one of America's largest farmer-owned cooperatives,
February 04, 2021 Read Full Article
Two Biden Priorities, Climate and Inequality, Meet on Black-Owned Farms
by Hiroko Tabuchi and Nadja Popovich (New York Times) The administration has pledged to make agriculture a cornerstone of its plan to fight warming, but also to tackle a legacy of discrimination that has pushed Black farmers off the land. --
February 01, 2021 Read Full Article
Regenerative Ag: The No. 1 Food Trend of 2020
by Tom Karst (Farm Journal Ag Web) ... More global produce marketers and retailers are taking measures to become regenerative companies. In a post on the chain’s website, Whole Foods called regenerative agriculture the number one food trend of 2020. “Farmers, producers, academics,
January 12, 2021 Read Full Article
Carinata for Biofuels, High Protein Feed, Cover Crop: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Nuseed
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Nuseed (which acquired Agrisoma last year) has four focus crops – carinata, sorghum, canola and sunflower – sound more like a cooking ingredient list but they are in fact fantastic feedstocks for a range of
December 28, 2020 Read Full Article
What’s Kool about Kula Bio? Transforming the Economics and Sustainability of Soil, for Starters.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Today, let’s look at an alternative to carpet-bombing Midwestern corn fields with around 150 pounds per acre of nitrogen fertilizer, in hopes that the plants will take up about half of that, en route to a
December 22, 2020 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
New Legislation Sets Policy Menu for Sustainable Aviation Fuels
by Jeff Overton (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) As the aviation industry recovers from the severe contraction caused by the pandemic, sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) will be essential to help the sector achieve a path to net-zero carbon emissions by
December 12, 2020 Read Full Article
FarmLab Thinks It Can Get 1m Farmers to Sequester 1bn Tonnes of CO2 by 2025. Here’s How
by Jack Ellis (Ag Funder News) ... He (FarmLab co-founder and CEO Sam Duncan) started FarmLab with co-founder and chief technology officer Shahriar Jamshidi in 2016 with the aim of making sampling on farms more efficient and wallet-friendly. Back then, it was
December 11, 2020 Read Full Article
Yara Announces World-Scale Green Ammonia Project
by Mary Page Bailey (Chemical Engineering) Yara International ASA (Oslo, Norway) has announced plans for 500,000 metric tons per year (m.t./yr) of green ammonia production in Norway, powering emission-free shipping fuels and decarbonized food solutions. “Ammonia is the most promising hydrogen carrier and
December 09, 2020 Read Full Article
Wyden Introduces Legislation to Improve Soil Health, Crop Resilience and Address the Climate Crisis
(Office of Senator Ron Wyden, D-OR) U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore. introduced legislation to help address the climate crisis by encouraging farming practices that improve soil health and crop resilience and lower the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. “In 2020 alone,
November 16, 2020 Read Full Article
Yield10 Bioscience Announces Start of Field Tests of Winter Camelina Varieties
(Yield10 Bioscience) Yield10 Bioscience, Inc. (Nasdaq:YTEN), an agricultural bioscience company, today announced that it has begun field testing to evaluate the emergence and agronomics of winter Camelina sativa varieties. The testing of these winter varieties in the 2020/2021 winter season is part of Yield10’s
November 02, 2020 Read Full Article
TerraSync Algae Micro Cover Crop: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Accelergy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Mark P. Allen, Vice President of Integrated Carbon Solutions at Accelergy, shared this illuminating slide guide on how Accelergy’s TerraSync is cost competitive, has soil health benefits, gobbles up CO2 better than any other
October 30, 2020 Read Full Article
Q&A: How Regenerative Ag Benefits Farmers in General Mills’ Key Sourcing Regions
by Nate Birt (Farm Journal Ag Web) Over the past year, a wave of global food companies have transitioned their focus from sustainable to regenerative agriculture. General Mills—maker of Cheerios cereal, Yoplait yogurt, Nature Valley granola bars and Pillsbury desserts, among
October 13, 2020 Read Full Article
Carbon Farming, Algae Biofertilizer: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Accelergy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Just look at those melons and what a difference algae can make! And that’s just part of the story that shows us that, yes, CO2 emissions CAN be used to grow algae and that algae CAN be
October 02, 2020 Read Full Article
Powerful Pennycress: Dr. Sedbrook’s Research Team Is Transforming a Weed into a Crop
(Illinois State University) Though farmers consider pennycress (Thlaspi arvense) nothing more than a weed, Illinois State Professor of Genetics Dr. John Sedbrook is working to change their perspective—and the plant itself. Sedbrook and his student researchers in the School of
September 29, 2020 Read Full Article
RFA’s Virtual Heartland Tour Gives Congressional and Agency Staff an Inside Look at Ethanol Industry
(Renewable Fuels Association) Congressional staff and other federal and state decisionmakers got an up-close virtual look at the U.S. ethanol industry last week as part of the Renewable Fuels Association’s Virtual Heartland Tour. The event included a series of educational videos
September 24, 2020 Read Full Article
New Biochar Learning Center (BLC)
by Kelpie Wilson (US Biochar Initiative Newsletter) Biochar stories and research are found online everywhere now. That’s great, but how can you determine which information is most current and credible? Providing you with reliable answers is the goal of USBI’s new Biochar
September 23, 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
Sustainable Aviation Fuel: Review of Technical Pathways Report
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Sustainable Aviation Fuel: Review of Technical Pathways report provides an overview of commercial jet aviation fuel and summarizes learnings from three BETO-supported workshops. In addition, the report focuses on insights for reducing costs and optimizing the value
September 10, 2020 Read Full Article
Regenerative Farming: Let’s Look Forward, Not Backward
by John Fargher (AgFunderNews/AgriWebb) Regenerative farming has often been a controversial topic – largely due to confusion regarding its true definition. Some believe that it involves a return to pre-industrial farming techniques, and fear it’s about pursuing sustainability instead of profits. This
August 29, 2020 Read Full Article
New Soil Models May Ease Atmospheric CO2, Climate Change
(North America Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance) ... In an article published in Nature Geoscience, Cornell University's Johannes Lehmann and others wrote that scientists should develop new models that more accurately reflect the carbon-storage processes beneath our feet in order to effectively
August 21, 2020 Read Full Article
Democrats Turn to Rural Issues: Rural, Midwest Democrats Promote Infrastructure and Divergent Strategy From Trump Years
by Chris Clayton (DTN Progressive Farmer) Democratic leaders put a heavy emphasis on rural broadband and health care while criticizing the Trump administration and President Trump directly on trade, biofuels, climate change and the pandemic response. A western Pennsylvania soybean and hay
August 20, 2020 Read Full Article
Department of Energy Announces $97 Million for Bioenergy Research and Development
(U.S. Department of Energy) Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced more than $97 million in funding for 33 projects that will support high-impact technology research and development to accelerate the bioeconomy. These projects will improve the performance and lower
July 31, 2020 Read Full Article
“B-Corp” Certification for Novamont, Making It Also a "Benefit Corporation”
(Novamont) Novamont’s commitment to be a force for global regeneration with higher purposes than mere profit was strengthened today by being awarded the ‘B Corp’ Certification. The Italian bioplastic manufacturer has joined 3,423 companies spanning 150 industries in 71 countries
July 31, 2020 Read Full Article
U.S. Renewable Energy Numbers Show Strong Progress Towards a Long-Time Goal
(Solutions from the Land) An analysis of data released by the DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA) that measures the amount of power generated by various resources shows more than 25 percent of the nation's net electrical generation came from renewable sources during the month of
July 30, 2020 Read Full Article
Black Gold: Iowa’s Soils Can Be a Fort Knox for Carbon Storage
by Zhichao Wang and Jim Ramm (EcoEngineers) Iowa’s fertile farmland could be a soil-based Fort Knox that — instead of gold — stores a wealth of carbon within its underground vaults. How farmers can tap into the potential riches of carbon capture
July 29, 2020 Read Full Article
Smart Farms of the Future: Making Bioenergy Crops More Environmentally Friendly
by Julie Chao (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) Berkeley Lab launches three new projects to advance sustainable agricultural practices ... The three projects, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), leverage Berkeley Lab’s strengths in artificial intelligence, sensors, and ecological biology.
June 03, 2020 Read Full Article
Why Is No One Talking about Agriculture as a Solution to Climate Change?
by Karn Manhas (Terramera/AgFunder News) ... Far less attention has been paid to agriculture’s capacity to be a climate solution. How? Through the production and maintenance of healthy living soil. The world’s soils contain 2,500 gigatons of carbon — more than three times more
May 29, 2020 Read Full Article
Q&A on Cellulosic Ethanol with Clariant
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) DigestConnect hosted a wildly popular webinar in late April with Clariant’s Head of Business Line, Biofuels & Derivatives at Clariant but there were so many fantastic audience questions we didn’t to, that we decided to follow