Dear Readers,
In week 30, I informed you that fraudulent practices are afoot following complaints filed by the German Federal Government against the EU regarding deliveries of biofuel imports from China. While the Commission identified systemic weaknesses in its certification audits and announced measures to address them, the information collected failed to confirm any fraud. The German Environment Ministry now intends to file legal proceedings against the EU Commission. The German biofuel industry (including the German Biofuel Industry Association) calls the decision logical and consistent. This is in light of the fact that the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy, in the face of serious information from German authorities, is standing idly by as large quantities of biofuel imports from China are fraudulently declared as “advanced” and imported.
“We are critical of two points in particular: Firstly, that the EU Commission has massively exceeded the deadline for investigating the information, and secondly, that the instruments used are apparently insufficient to prove fraud,” says Elmar Baumann, Managing Director of the German Biofuel Industry Association. “The European Commission’s task is to establish standards for the certification and controls of advanced biofuels and to monitor compliance with these standards through the certification systems. It is failing to do so. For two and a half years, we have seen serious market distortions in the sector.” The European Commission had concrete indications from the industry and from member state authorities. Nevertheless, it failed to check compliance with sustainability criteria for imports of advanced biofuels from China within the prescribed deadline. The German Biofuel Industry Association is calling for clear guidelines from the Directorate-General for Energy and regulatory controls. This includes the registration of all producers of advanced biofuels.
A report (attachment) from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) is dedicated to the topic of biomass in its many forms. The tenth anniversary edition of the JRC Biomass report discusses the competing demands on biomass in the following sections. The report’s central chapters quantify biomass supplies from forests, agriculture, and marine ecosystems, as well as waste streams, for a wide range of uses in the European Union. The second half of the report is devoted to a presentation and discussion of various possible measures to address biomass governance. The need for systemic assessment levels is emphasized to facilitate policy coherence. This report reflects the direct work of the JRC’s scientific staff and their collaborators and combines the expertise of several units within the organization, all united by a shared focus on biomass.
Hong Kong-based EcoCeres Inc. also recently published a position paper (see attachment) emphasizing the need for fair, effective, and fraud-proof certification protocols for sustainable biofuels in the European Union. As Europe accelerates its transition to renewable energy, ensuring the authenticity and integrity of sustainability claims is more important than ever. EcoCeres’ position paper underscores the importance of transparent, fair, and fraud-proof verification mechanisms. This will maintain the credibility of the biofuels market, support environmental goals, and build trust among consumers and industry stakeholders.
World Grain reports that global agricultural production is expected to increase by 14% by 2034. According to the FAO Agricultural Outlook 2025-2034, grain production is projected to grow by an average of 1.1% per year. Grain production will be driven by an annual increase in yield, while harvested area is expected to grow by only 0.14%. Global grain production is expected to reach 3.2 billion tons by 2034. Wheat production is expected to increase by 74 million tons to 874 million tons by 2034, including 42 million tons in Asia. India, the world’s third-largest wheat producer, is expected to supply the largest share of the additional wheat, accounting for 29% of the global production increase. This is due, according to the report, to yield increases and area expansion in response to national policies to improve self-sufficiency. Global corn production is expected to increase by 188 million tons to 1.4 billion tons by 2034. These increases are due to rising global demand and a favorable domestic policy environment. https://www.world-grain.com/articles/21657-fao-global-ag-production-to-increase-14-in-next-decade
India is scaling up palm oil production with a surge in Malaysian seed imports and a push to plant a million hectares. Private sector partnerships and government backing are driving the shift from importer to grower. The report found that demand has risen sharply as the country intensifies efforts to increase domestic palm oil production and reduce import dependence. India, through its National Edible Oils Mission, aims to expand its oil palm cultivation area to 1 million hectares by 2025/26 and produce nearly 2.8 million tons of crude palm oil by 2029/30. The Malaysian Palm Oil Association has developed new high-yielding varieties through breeding programs that have the potential to produce more than 30 tons of fresh fruit bunches per hectare per year. This is almost double the Malaysian national average of 15.47 to 16.73 tons during 2020-2023. More at: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/agriculture/indias-palm-oil-plans-wreak-havoc-on-the-ground
The HOYER Group has signed a contract with H2 MOBILITY, the largest operator of hydrogen filling stations in Germany. The international liquid goods logistics company will initially partner with hydrogen filling stations in the Rhine-Neckar region and will be responsible for both transport and volume management. Anna Krüger, Head of Sales Global Gas Logistics and member of the HOYER Group’s New Energies focus group, said: “We are delighted to have signed the contract, which will allow us to contribute our many years of experience in both hydrogen and intelligent logistics planning.” Read more about the story. https://www.hoyer-group.com/en/press/h2-mobility-and-the-hoyer-group-conclude-a-contract-for-hydrogen-logistics
According to a report by the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), maize production in South Africa will continue to grow in the 2025/26 marketing year. This is due to stable acreage, higher expected yields, and a slight shift toward yellow maize two years after a drought-induced crop reduction. Production is expected to reach 16 million tons in 2025/26, an increase of 4% from 15.4 million tons in 2024/25. Due to declining maize prices, the maize acreage will remain stable at 3 million hectares between May 2026 and April 2027. https://ukragroconsult.com/en/news/south-africas-corn-production-poised-to-grow/
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has granted Snam a loan of up to €264 million. The aim is to facilitate the integration of biomethane production plants into the Italian energy infrastructure and promote the transition to a more sustainable and diversified energy system. https://www.eib.org/en/press/all/2025-303-eib-snam-eur264-million-agreement-to-integrate-biomethane-into-italy-s-gas-network
In the UK, a new incentive scheme is encouraging companies to explore collaborations with academia to accelerate the development of sustainable bioenergy in the UK. The Supergen Bioenergy Hub at Aston University’s Energy and Bioproducts Institute (EBRI) has introduced a voucher program to encourage its members to develop more industry and research partnerships. https://www.aston.ac.uk/latest-news/uk-sustainable-bioenergy-voucher-scheme-launched-encourage-businesses-collaborate
The Chief Commissioner of the Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), M. Maheshwar Rao, has directed officials of the Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML) to prepare a comprehensive plan for the construction of a waste-to-energy plant at the Kannahalli waste processing plant. Rao tasked the officials with preparing the plan after discussing the challenges and shortcomings with Sataram, the private company that currently operates the plant. According to the BBMP, the Kannahalli plant processes 350 tons of waste daily. https://site.bbmp.gov.in/organization.html
The combination of favorable weather conditions and advances in soil-based biotechnology has helped Brazil achieve another record soybean harvest. According to the 10th National Supply Corporation (CONAB) survey for the 2024/2025 harvest, production is expected to reach 169.5 million tons—a 14.7% increase over the previous cycle. Average productivity also reached historic levels, with an estimated 3,560 kg per hectare. One of the main drivers of this performance, according to the report, was the increasing use of bioinputs, particularly soil-beneficial microorganisms. https://noticias.r7.com/prisma/mundo-agro/biotecnologia-com-microrganismos-impulsiona-produtividade-recorde-da-soja-no-brasil-23072025/
The Municipality of Dubai has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BiOD Technology FZCO. This is an important step toward promoting environmental sustainability and the circular economy in the emirate. The agreement outlines a strategic collaboration focused on converting used cooking oils (UCO) and used fats (FOG) into B100 biodiesel. https://mediaoffice.ae/en/news/2025/july/28-07/dubai-municipality-and-biod-technology-sign-landmark-mou
Offshore Energy reports that Taiwanese shipping company Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation has decided to order three additional 8,000-TEU methanol dual-fuel container ships from Japan. Together with the three 8,000-TEU vessels acquired from Shoei Kisen Kaisha in March, Yang Ming has a total of six methanol dual-fuel container ships, scheduled for delivery between 2028 and 2030, according to the report. “Yang Ming continues to implement its fleet optimization plan to ensure comprehensive service coverage while enhancing competitiveness and operational resilience. Amid ongoing supply chain restructuring and global uncertainties, the company remains committed to providing reliable and sustainable transportation services,” the shipowner stated. https://www.offshore-energy.biz/yang-ming-books-additional-three-methanol-fueled-boxships-in-japan/
Sestec, a Polish company specializing in sustainable, protein-based adhesives for wood and composite materials, has been acquired by Bakelite. By integrating Sestec’s technology, Bakelite is expanding its portfolio of sustainable adhesive solutions worldwide and continuing to support its customers in fulfilling their sustainability commitments, according to the company. “This acquisition is a pivotal step for Bakelite,” said JP Aucoin, President and CEO of Bakelite. “Sestec’s innovative, bio-based adhesives not only expand our product offerings but also underscore our commitment to sustainable solutions. This positions us to continue to stay ahead of the growing global demand for sustainable adhesives.” https://www.sestec.pl/
In its latest outlook for the global sugar market from 2025 to 2034, the FAO emphasized that India’s sugarcane ethanol production will continue to grow, supported by government policies to diversify the sugar sector. According to the forecast, India is expected to maintain its position as the third-largest sugar exporter after Brazil and Thailand, contributing approximately 8% to global exports. The rising ethanol production is largely due to policies that promote the use of domestically produced ethanol, link the consumption of biofuels and fossil fuels, and target the decarbonization of the transport sector. About the report: https://www.chinimandi.com/indias-ethanol-drive-expected-to-use-22-of-sugar-output-by-2034-oecd-fao-report/
A team of researchers at the University of Missouri has discovered a way to genetically modify a plant’s genes to produce more oil for biofuels. Biochemistry professor Jay Thelen used Arabidopsis, a mustard plant, to investigate how genetic modifications can increase plant oil production for biofuels, according to the report. Thelen explained that Arabidopsis was chosen because the plant has a short growth cycle of about six to eight weeks and can produce oil within a few months. “It’s actually the first sequenced plant genome. It also has numerous genetic resources in the form of knockouts,” Thelen said. “This makes it an ideal organism for studying oilseed biology.”
Construction of the Baltics’ first renewable fuel production facility for hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is beginning in Kundziņsala, the most dynamically growing area of the Port of Riga. With an investment of €120 million and the creation of 120 highly skilled jobs, Amber Flow Fuels will begin producing innovative, high-value products as early as 2027, thus supporting Latvia’s climate neutrality and the goals of the Green Deal. https://rop.lv/en/news/kundzinsala-new-industrial-centre-riga