Have a say in USDA’s new sustainable biofuel policy
By Farms.com
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is inviting public contributions to help shape the future of biofuel production in the United States.
This initiative seeks to establish voluntary standards for biofuel feedstocks cultivated using climate-smart practices, a move authorized under the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008.
The goal is to create standards that could be considered in clean transportation fuel policies at various levels, potentially offering new market opportunities for U.S. farmers. This comes in response to the need for more accurate methods to quantify, report, and verify the impact of such farming practices on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from biofuel feedstock crops.
The request for information (RFI) follows recent guidelines from the U.S.
Treasury on the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) tax credit and includes the USDA's Climate-Smart Agriculture Pilot Program. Through the RFI, the USDA aims to gather data and opinions that will support the development of robust standards promoting lower GHG emissions and environmental sustainability.
Key areas for public input include the types of crops and practices to consider, scientific data to support GHG emission outcomes, and the necessary documentation to verify the adoption and maintenance of these practices.
This initiative not only aims to bolster environmental benefits like improved soil health and water quality but also to enhance the credibility and marketability of climate-smart biofuels.
Set to be published in the Federal Register, the RFI marks a significant step towards integrating climate-smart practices into mainstream agricultural and biofuel production processes, reinforcing the USDA’s commitment to sustainable farming and clean energy.