Finnish renewable fuels producer Neste is working in partnership with German chemical giant Bayer to develop a winter canola ecosystem in the USA to meet increasing demand for biomass-based renewable fuel feedstocks.
The companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to set up the project and expected to finalise a definitive agreement this year Bayer said on 8 January.
Used as a new alternative rotational crop, winter canola helped sequester carbon in the soil and could improve soil health by increasing its organic matter content and water-holding capacity, leading to enhanced soil fertility and productivity.
Bayer said it aimed to launch hybrid TruFlex winter canola in the USA in 2027, which it said also included Roundup Ready herbicide and pod shatter resistance technology to improve product stability and performance.
“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,” Bayer Crop science division’s head of strategy & sustainability, Frank Terhorst, said.
Leading up to the launch, Bayer said it would work with Neste, the value chain and farmers to introduce winter canola as a biomass-based feedstock.
