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Soybean growers once again brought in a big harvest to provide ample biodiesel feedstock supplies. Market trends, however, keep on the pressure to diversify into new sources of fats, oils and
greases. Biodiesel Magazine takes a look at the feedstock outlook.

The ability of biodiesel company managers to operate within the volatile world of commodity prices on both the front and back ends requires a level of sophistication in a market that can be ruthless and unforgiving—not to mention there are technological upgrade considerations, retooling and maintenance options, branding, legislative monitoring and review, coproduct sales and logistics.

Airlines are under serious pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, so when the most prolific oil refinery technology provider on the planet teams up with the world’s biggest airplane manufacturer, they produce results—and a new class of fuel.

Vehicles under warranty by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to use B20 could claim “flex-fuel” status soon. A new U.S. EPA ruling provides incentives to OEM fleets that build B20 models such as Ford’s Super Duty 350, which will be equipped to handle the blend beginning in 2011. Also, because of its characteristics as a blended fuel, some producers are seeing increased demand.

A comprehensive report profiling an array of biodiesel feedstocks and resulting methyl esters has just been completed by Renewable Energy Group Inc., and is available pro bono to the biodiesel industry.

The history of U.S. biodiesel begins almost 30 years ago as university researchers built upon developmental Austrian work. Years later, when biodiesel gained entry into the 1990 Farm Bill, an industry was born.