By Jamie Martin
Bayer and Neste, a leading renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel producer, have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to advance winter canola as a biomass feedstock for biofuels and renewable products.
This collaboration focuses on building a winter canola ecosystem in the Southern Great Plains of the U.S., emphasizing product development and expanding Bayer’s market presence.
"Renewable fuels are playing an important role in the decarbonization of transportation and energy while global targets continue to shape biofuel markets and accelerate demand for biomass-based feedstocks going forward," said Frank Terhorst, Head of Strategy & Sustainability for Bayer’s Crop Science Division.
"We are committed to supporting farmers’ ability to deliver low-carbon feedstocks on demand, through investments in new crops like winter canola and advancements in sustainable cropping systems."
Set for a 2027 launch, Bayer’s hybrid TruFlex winter canola includes Roundup Ready and pod shatter resistance technology. It provides stability and performance while improving soil health through carbon sequestration, organic matter enrichment, and better water retention.
“We are excited to partner with Neste to enable profitable new crop options for farmers, while delivering on the unmet demand for renewable fuel,” said Jennifer Ozimkiewicz, Head of Crop Strategy Soy & Biofuels at Bayer’s Crop Science Division.
"We believe our next generation TruFlex products will provide farmers a new profitable rotational crop option, while offering potential sustainability benefits such as increased biodiversity, soil health and agronomic rotation to reduce pest, disease and weed pressure. Bayer is committed to continue to lead the way with alternative biomass-based feedstocks and regenerative agricultural solutions.”
Bayer and Neste will collaborate with farmers and value chain partners to introduce winter canola as a renewable feedstock. They plan to finalize their agreement in 2025.
“This collaboration with Bayer strengthens our strategy to develop together with value chain partners regenerative agriculture concepts that can be scaled up and can play an important role in diversifying and growing the raw materials pool for all of our renewable products,” said Artturi Mikkola, Senior Vice President Feedstock Sourcing & Trading at Neste.
Renewable fuels, which significantly lower carbon emissions compared to fossil fuels, are essential for decarbonizing transportation. They also create new revenue streams for farmers by promoting biomass-based feedstocks.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-ligora
Categories: National