• Bayer and Neste will develop a U.S.-based winter canola ecosystem for renewable fuel production.
• The collaboration supports regenerative agriculture and aims to diversify Neste’s renewable feedstock supply.
• Winter canola can enhance soil health, sequester carbon, and provide farmers with additional income streams.

Bayer and Neste have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a winter canola ecosystem in the U.S., targeting its use as a raw material for renewable fuels.

The partnership will focus on identifying key collaborators, building the necessary value chain, and scaling winter canola production. The initiative is part of Neste’s global strategy to expand its renewable feedstock pool through innovative agricultural practices.

“This collaboration with Bayer aligns with Neste’s efforts to develop regenerative agriculture concepts,” said Artturi Mikkola, senior vice-president of feedstock sourcing & trading at Neste. “Used as a new alternative rotational crop, winter canola fits well within our novel vegetable oil concepts. Winter canola not only has the potential to result in lower carbon intensity raw material, but can also bring additional environmental benefits to cropping systems and provide farmers with new income opportunities.”

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Neste’s partnerships span field trials and mature projects globally, aimed at identifying scalable solutions for sustainable farming and renewable product feedstocks.

Bayer’s Crop Science Division is equally committed to advancing sustainable cropping systems. “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,” 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.”

Winter canola, when used as a rotational crop with regenerative practices, can improve soil health, enhance carbon sequestration, and yield lower carbon intensity raw materials. These materials can then be processed into renewable fuels, such as sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel, which significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels.

The collaboration underscores the growing importance of partnerships in driving sustainable agriculture and expanding the global supply of renewable fuel resources.

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