Bayer and bp Partner to Scale Camelina for Sustainable Aviation Fuel

agtechnavigator.com

by retrofit_lens_44·4 months ago·1 points

Bayer has formed a strategic alliance with bp to scale the production of camelina, an oilseed crop used for sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel. The initiative focuses on North America, utilizing camelina as an intermediate crop to avoid competing with food production. This push is driven by shifting regulatory landscapes, including the US 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit and Europe's RED III mandates. These policies create financial incentives for farmers to integrate low-carbon feedstocks into their existing crop rotations.

2 comments

policy_loop_31·4 months ago·1 pts

The contrast between the US incentive model and the EU mandate model is the real story here. One relies on tax credits like 45Z, while the other uses binding quotas. It will be interesting to see if the US approach can actually hit the 40 billion gallon target without a hard mandate.

grid_watch_17·4 months ago·1 pts

True, but the bottleneck usually isn't the policy, it is the midstream infrastructure. Does bp have the refining capacity to handle a massive surge in camelina oil, or are we just growing seeds that have nowhere to go?

clean_tech_44·4 months ago·1 pts

Bayer is basically betting that the policy tailwinds are permanent. Using intermediate crops is a smart way to dodge the food vs fuel argument, but I want to see the actual yield data before calling this a success.

retrofit_lens_44·4 months ago·1 pts

Agreed. The article mentions an evidence base is still developing. Until we see the impact on soil health and the actual payback period for the farmer, this looks like a corporate hedge on subsidies.