Invests in new intermediate oilseed crops like camelina to meet rising demand for low-carbon biomass-based feedstocks
Bayer announced a deal to acquire the germplasm, intellectual property, and materials of Canada-based Smart Earth Camelina Corp. Bayer intends to take advantage of this acquisition to expand its leadership position in the global market for biomass-based feedstocks. In addition to decarbonizing the transportation sector, Bayer also plans to deliver regenerative agriculture solutions through the investment and development of intermediate oilseed crops in order to meet the increasing demand for renewable diesels and sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) that are estimated to grow from 14 billion to 40 billion gallons by the year 2040.
Camelina is a novel intermediate oilseed crop with a promising low-carbon intensity for renewable fuel and can be grown in both spring and winter. Bayer intends to use its oilseed expertise to further develop this product.
Bayer continues to lead the way with alternative biomass-based feedstocks and regenerative agricultural solutions. “We are committed to supporting farmers’ ability to deliver on growing demand for low-carbon biomass-based feedstocks, through investments and development of new intermediate oilseed crops like camelina and advancing sustainable cropping systems,” said Frank Terhorst, Head of Strategy & Sustainability at Bayer’s Crop Science Division.
Biofuels play a key role in decarbonizing the transportation sector since electrification is not feasible in all transportation systems like aviation or marine. Biofuels can be produced from renewable organic materials like corn, soy, canola and novel alternative oilseed crops like Camelina and CoverCress. These drop-in fuels have a lower carbon intensity than fossil fuels and can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional fossil fuels, playing a key role in mitigating climate change. On top, they can provide farmers with new revenue streams through biomass-based feedstock cultivation.
“We are excited about the acquisition of Camelina germplasm from Smart Earth Camelina Corp. which enables us to offer farmers a profitable low-carbon intermediate crop option,” added Jennifer Ozimkiewicz, Head of Crop Strategy Soy & Biofuels at Bayer’s Crop Science Division. “Camelina is a short season and drought tolerant crop, offering growers an alternative low-input crop for marginal land or to be grown in-between crops.”
“Smart Earth Camelina Corp. has been at the forefront of Camelina development for over 20 years. Camelina is now poised to join the ranks of the other major oilseed crops,” said Jack Grushcow, President and Chief Executive Officer at Smart Earth Camelina Corp.
In 2025, Bayer will establish new renewable fuel value chains to provide fuel with a lower carbon intensity than traditional fuel sources, including the introduction of camelina to farmers as a profitable alternative oil seed.
Camellina will complement Bayer’s existing work with CoverCress and the recent announcement on scaling winter canola in the US as a biomass-based feedstock to meet growing demand for renewable fuel. Bayer aims to launch hybrid TruFlex winter canola in the US in 2027.
