Dow-DuPont spinff Corteva Inc. Bunge Chevron U.S.A. Inc., a subsidiary of Chevron Corporation announced a commercial collaboration to introduce winter canola hybrids that produce plant-based oil to meet demand for renewable fuels.
Corteva, a seed and crop protection company, moved its headquarters from the Wilmington area to Indianapolis but maintains a presence in northern Delaware.
The goal is to increase the availability of vegetable oil feedstocks primarily for the growing domestic renewable fuels market. The companies plan to introduce the winter canola crop into the southern United States as a way to create a new revenue opportunity for farmers with a sustainable crop rotation.
The proprietary winter canola hybrids from Corteva can be used in a double crop system, following soybeans or cotton.
Bunge Chevron Ag Renewables, the joint venture between the grain company and oil company, plans to contract with farmers to purchase the harvested winter canola crop and use the oil to produce renewable fuel. In addition to providing farmers a new income opportunity, a release stated that adding winter canola to a rotation provides a cover crop that can enhance soil health by holding more nutrients, water, and carbon in the soil. A pilot program is expected to be conducted in the 2022-23 growing season.
“Rotational cover crops play a key role in our strategy to continue to develop next-generation lower carbon feedstocks. As a leader in oilseed processing, we are pleased to work together with Corteva and Chevron to bring this crop innovation to farmers and process it into sustainable solutions for consumers. This is another step in our commitment to creating clear paths to support the decarbonization of the industry,” said Greg Heckman, Bunge CEO.
“Chevron is committed to advancing a lower-carbon energy future, and we recognize renewable fuels like biodiesel and renewable diesel are a solution to do that,” said Kevin Lucke, President of Chevron Renewable Energy Group. “Feedstock innovation is a critical element of the growth of the renewable fuels industry, and innovative solutions like double-crop winter canola not only benefit the lower-carbon future, but also benefit farmers, consumers and the environment.”
