U.S. program will require that feedstock be grown using three practices, which many farmers won’t be able to follow
REUTERS — Little to no ethanol will qualify for U.S. sustainable aviation fuel subsidies under a new pilot program by president Joe Biden’s administration, according to a Reuters review of government data and people familiar with the matter. The pilot program toughened climate requirements at the last minute and could hurt the biofuel industry, which […] Read moreTag Archives biofuel — page 6
Critics question U.S. gov’t focus on sustainable aviation fuel
Federal policymakers and their Big Ag friends have a problem: their hope to make corn and soybeans the feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel hit a wall when the aviation industry ruled that biofuel from either crop did not meet its “sustainable” guidelines. As such, there would be no corn- or soy-based SAF. That’s not the […] Read more
Vegetable oil hits aviation turbulence
Sustainable aviation fuel was seen as major new market for vegetable oil, but stiffer competition may dash those hopes
SASKATOON — The biofuel market for vegetable oil might not be as massive as once envisioned, according to a commodity price reporting agency. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) will be the biggest driver of the biofuel market over the next two decades, Joao Morciani, agriculture and biofuel analyst with Fastmarkets, said during a recent webinar. Related […] Read more
Budget supports biofuel
SASKATOON — Canada’s biofuel groups and oilseed crushers are pleased with what it saw in the federal government’s 2024 budget. “The best way to describe it is they’ve got the right tools in the box,” said Doug Hooper, director of policy and regulation with Advanced Biofuels Canada (ABFC). Related stories: The Canadian Fuels Association (CFA) […] Read more
Food vs. fuel debate called outdated thinking
Manufacturers of sustainable aviation fuel say the increase in light duty electric vehicles has created an ethanol surplus
SASKATOON — Sustainable aviation fuel manufacturers say they won’t be compromising food supplies despite consuming large volumes of agricultural products. The U.S. government has established goals of scaling up SAF production to three billion gallons by 2030 and 35 billion gallons by 2050. Related stories: Most of that fuel is expected to be made using […] Read more
Malaysia to monitor EU’s palm oil biofuel curbs
Country loses WTO fight over palm oil’s loss of renewable designation, but EU required to change how policy is enacted
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (Reuters) — Malaysia says it will closely monitor how the European Union responds to a World Trade Organization ruling that supported the bloc’s stance that biofuel causing deforestation cannot be regarded as renewables but sought changes in how it implemented that decision. A WTO adjudicating panel, in its first ruling related to […] Read more
Canola industry says it is ready for a large crop
Demand is more evenly divided now between domestic and export markets, which would make moving a big crop easier
WINNIPEG — Despite ongoing crop production challenges on much of the Prairies, the canola industry continues to grow. That was the message from the Canola Council of Canada at its annual meeting March 7 as it looked back at a 2023 that saw a surge in oil exports to the United States for biofuel production […] Read more
U.S. corn growers await aviation fuel decision
HOUSTON, Texas — American corn growers are on pins and needles waiting to find out if corn ethanol will qualify for a lucrative sustainable aviation fuel tax credit. They expected an announcement at last week’s 2024 Commodity Classic convention, the annual gathering of U.S. corn, soybean, wheat and sorghum growers. But that didn’t happen. U.S. […] Read more
Canola sector anticipates major biofuel boom
The biofuel industry could drive canola demand into uncharted territory in the coming decade, says one industry expert. “The capacity of crush could grow from 11.3 million metric tonnes today to 18 million metric tonnes in three or four years,” said Chris Vervaet, executive director of the Canadian Oilseed Processors Association. Vervaet was among the […] Read more
Research finds canola growers use fertilizer responsibly
A recent study at the University of Saskatchewan found that most of the province’s growers use optimal rates or less
BALGONIE, Sask. — A study at the University of Saskatchewan found a tax or cap on fertilizer use in canola would harm producer profitability when most are already using optimal amounts. Michelle Ross studied the topic for her master’s thesis after the federal government floated its target to reduce emissions from fertilizer by 30 percent […] Read more
