ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, US — Bunge Global SA and Repsol SA have incorporated intermediate novel crops camelina and safflower into their renewable energy partnership, expanding the available pool of low-carbon intensity feedstocks for the continued development of renewable fuels in Europe.
The companies said in their April 24 announcement that camelina and safflower will be processed into low-carbon intensity oils and used as feedstock to produce hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), a fully compatible drop-in replacement for conventional diesel fuel, or sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for the decarbonization of air travel.
Repsol, a Spain-based multi-energy company, will utilize advanced technology in its industrial assets to convert these oils into renewable fuel, creating a new pathway for the development of renewable fuels in Spain. Intermediate novel crops can produce renewable fuel with emission reductions of up to 90% compared to conventional diesel.
“We are committed to be the best-in-class partner to provide innovative solutions and support farmers’ efforts in low-carbon agriculture,” said Julio Garros, co-president, Agribusiness, at Bunge. “Through industry collaborations, we are adding new oil sources to our global supply chains and investing in processing plants with greater ability to handle and process these crops, expanding our offerings of cost-effective, sustainable feedstocks to customers worldwide. We are pleased to partner with Repsol to create clear and scalable paths to support the decarbonization of the industry.”
St. Louis, Missouri, US-based Bunge said it is leveraging its extensive global network of farmer relationships and expertise in oilseed processing, developing value-chain partnerships to promote the adoption of intermediate novel crops and offering a progressive portfolio of readily available, high-performing options.
These oil-rich novel crops, which are designed to be planted on fallow lands, offer distinct advantages: provide farmers a new income opportunity through sustainable crop rotations while improving soil health and boosting biodiversity, Bunge noted. Moreover, these crops are additive to the existing production systems for food, feed and fuel.
Bunge and Repsol recently closed their partnership transaction, which was announced in March 2024, and said they are committed to ongoing research and development to explore further low-carbon feedstock opportunities to boost the supply of advanced renewable fuels, including sourcing novel seeds from Spanish farmers.
Described as the first of its kind in Europe, this partnership was developed to accelerate the ramp-up of production of these fuels mandated by the European Union. As part of the agreement, Repsol Repsol acquired 40% of three industrial facilities that are part of Bunge Iberica, one of Bunge’s subsidiaries in the Iberian Peninsula, and dedicated to the production of oils and biofuels.
“Renewable fuels are a fundamental pillar for Repsol on our road to becoming zero net emissions by 2050, and intermediate crops must play a key role in guaranteeing the supply of the low-carbon feedstocks necessary to produce these fuels,” said Juan Abascal, executive managing director of Industrial Transformation and Circular Economy at Repsol. “Our strategic alliance with Bunge, a world leader in the vegetable oils production sector, strengthens our capacity to achieve our shared vision of decarbonizing industry and mobility in the most efficient way.”
