A former lead agricultural trade negotiator with the U.S. Trade Representative doesn’t hold out much hope that the World Trade Organization’s dispute settlement mechanism will be fixed any time soon.  |  Reuters photo

No end seen for WTO’s dispute settlement woes

The U.S. shut down the appeal process in 2019, and the country is expected to keep standing in the way of reform

SASKATOON — Don’t hold your breath waiting for a fix to the World Trade Organization’s hobbled dispute settlement mechanism, says a trade expert. The WTO has set a December deadline for coming to an agreement on dispute settlement reform. Related stories: “I doubt that will happen,” said Sharon Bomer Lauritsen, an agriculture trade policy consultant […] Read more

Shippers have proposed a regulatory framework to the International Maritime Organization that includes a plan to levy a “green balance fee” on carriers that gain a competitive advantage by continuing to use to lower-cost fossil fuel.  |  Reuters photo

Ships struggle with emissions

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Reuters) — The ship Alette Maersk has become the first container vessel powered by low-carbon methanol fuel to cross the Pacific Ocean, a milestone in the shipping industry’s effort to reduce its climate impact. However, when the 1,148-foot vessel arrived at the Port of Los Angeles from China late last month, there […] Read more

Chinese producers of biodiesel have enjoyed fat profits in recent years, making the most of the EU’s green energy policy that grants subsidies to companies that are using biodiesel as a sustainable transport fuel.  |  Reuters photo

China’s biodiesel sector seeks new outlet amid EU tariffs

The European Union imposes provisional anti-dumping duties, forcing Chinese producers to look for other markets

SINGAPORE (Reuters) — Chinese biodiesel producers are seeking new outlets in Asia for their exports and exploring producing other types of biofuel as supply to the European Union, their biggest buyer, dries up ahead of anti-dumping tariffs, biofuel executives and analysts said. The EU has imposed provisional anti-dumping duties of 12.8 to 36.4 per cent […] Read more


The production of biodiesel from sustainable ingredients including used cooking oil can earn refiners climate subsidies. However, there is concern that some supplies labelled as used cooking oil are actually palm oil.  |  Reuters photo

EPA audits used cooking oil

REUTERS — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has launched investigations into the supply chains of at least two renewable fuel producers amid industry concerns that some may be using fraudulent feedstocks for biodiesel to secure lucrative government subsidies. EPA spokesperson Jeffrey Landis said the agency has launched audits over the past year, but declined to […] Read more

The good news is that canola-based SAF qualifies for the base blender's credit of US$1.25 per gallon because it was previously approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as an eligible feedstock. The bad news is that it does not qualify for the additional 50 cent per gallon blender's credit that is up for grabs. | File photo

Canola feels there is room for improvement in U.S. SAF tax credit

The industry plans to continue lobbying the U.S. government for better access to the sustainable aviation fuel program

SASKATOON — Canada’s canola industry had a mixed reaction to new sustainable aviation fuel tax credit guidelines coming out of the United States. The good news is that canola-based SAF qualifies for the base blender’s credit of US$1.25 per gallon because it was previously approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as an eligible feedstock. […] Read more


Most large ships run on low-sulphur fuel oil, but a lack of regulatory clarity leaves players reluctant to commit to a less carbon-intensive fuel.   |  File photo

Industry faces fuel dilemma

HOUSTON (Reuters) — The shipping industry is under increasing pressure to decarbonize, but unclear regulatory guidelines are complicating the path to net zero, according to executives. Global shipping firms are looking for ways to lower their carbon footprints, particularly as the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which regulates the global shipping industry, is being pushed to […] Read more

New numbers show U.S. biomass-based diesel production (which includes biodiesel, renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and heating oil) reached four billion gallons in 2023. That is way more production than the EPA was counting on when it announced its final Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS) for 2023, 2024 and 2025 back in June 2023.  | Reuters photo

EPA underestimated U.S. biodiesel production

The low Renewable Fuel Standards assumptions made by the agency threw a monkey wrench into the industry's plans

SASKATOON — Biofuel promoters are feeling simultaneously vindicated and frustrated by new numbers released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Those numbers show U.S. biomass-based diesel production, which includes biodiesel, renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and heating oil, reached four billion gallons in 2023. Related stories: Carbon intensity is ‘game changer’ Renewable diesel plans […] Read more


The fate of the renewable diesel industry has big ramifications for canola, above, and other feedstocks like soybeans. | Getty Images

Renewable diesel plans unrealistic: analyst

SASKATOON — The renewable diesel math does not add up, says an economist. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a final rule in June 2023 establishing a mandate for four to 4.5 billion gallons of renewable diesel and biodiesel by 2025. In the meantime, the U.S. biofuel industry has announced plans for six billion gallons […] Read more


An analyst calls crude oil the “800-pound gorilla in the room” when it comes to ag commodity markets.  |  Mike Sturk photo

Petroleum increases its influence on crop prices

The connection began with biodiesel and has risen with the production of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel


The job of a grains and oilseeds analyst has become more complicated. “We can’t look at ag commodities in isolation anymore,” said Owen Wagner, senior analyst with Rabobank. “We always have to have an eye on petroleum in the background.” The link between those commodities started in 2006-07 when 10 percent of the soybean oil […] Read more

Soybean oil futures have been on a downslide since peaking at 65.58 cents on July 24. | File photo

Soy oil price continues to slide

A technical analysis had DTN lead analyst Todd Hultman thinking soybean oil futures were going to finish October by closing above the 20-day average of US54 cents per pound. That would have signaled a bottoming out in prices and a bullish change in short-term momentum. That did not happen. Prices continued to fall, closing at […] Read more