St. Louis, Missouri, USA
August 4, 2009
USB funds Biodiesel Analysis
and Awareness Project
A proposed federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS-2) uses
assumptions and methodologies that excludes vegetable oil
(including soybean oil), or about 70 percent of all available
domestic raw material for biodiesel. Some of the assumptions
regarding biodiesel and Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) used
have been shown to be false. Fortunately, the biodiesel industry
and the soybean checkoff have collaborated on scientific
research that is likely to help clarify some of the
misinformation about biodiesel and ILUC.
The National Biodiesel Board’s (NBB) Sustainability Analysis and
Awareness project, which is partially funded by the
United Soybean Board
(USB) and soybean checkoff, helps build on the limited body of
data related to the science of attempting to measure indirect
emissions.
“It is necessary to use science-based research to help ensure
people are well-informed and educated regarding soy biodiesel,”
says Chuck Myers, USB Chairman and a soybean farmer from Lyons,
Neb. “All Americans can benefit from soy biodiesel, not just
soybean farmers. Soy biodiesel remains a critical part of our
renewable energy solution this country badly needs.”
Since the soybean checkoff helped establish the biodiesel
industry in the 90s, sales of the fuel have grown from two
million gallons in the year 2000 to over 700 million in 2008.
With the checkoff funding, NBB has put together a team of land
use experts consisting of economists, leaders in the field of
life cycle analysis, commodity experts and environmental
engineers to analyze the Environmental Protection Agency’s
initial estimation of biodiesel Green House Gases (GHG) due to
ILUC used in the RFS-2.
A few inaccuracies that have already been brought to the
forefront include that the soybeans were not given a significant
GHG credit for fixing nitrogen in soil and biodiesel production
did not receive a GHG credit for the production of glycerin as a
valuable co-product.
NBB also demonstrates that the value of 80 percent soy protein
meal as a significant portion of the market value for the entire
crop remained unaccounted for as well as the steep increases in
soybean yield that can be expected in coming years. The fact
that that soy exports will increase even with biodiesel
production also did not come into play with the development of
RFS-2.
“This work demonstrates how checkoff-funded research could allow
biodiesel to continue to grow as part of America’s energy
solution,” says Myers.
Soy biodiesel supporters who want to know more about how the
RFS-2 may impact the industry can visit NBB’s Web site,
www.biodiesel.org.
USB is made up of 68 farmer-directors who oversee the
investments of the soybean checkoff on behalf of all U.S.
soybean farmers. Checkoff funds are invested in the areas of
animal utilization, human utilization, industrial utilization,
industry relations, market access and supply. As stipulated in
the Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act,
USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight
responsibilities for USB and the soybean checkoff. |
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