THE GRAINS Research and Development Corporation has today released a roadmap to inform research, development and extension in the production of low-carbon liquid fuel feedstocks.

The roadmap presents a “feedstock first” approach designed to put Australian growers at the forefront of increasing global feedstock demand to support the transition to renewable fuels.

“The next oil boom will be on the farm, not under it,” GRDC managing director Nigel Hart said.

GRDC managing director Nigel Hart.

“By investing in crop innovation, agronomy and supply chain partnerships, we can unlock new markets, drive profitability for growers and support…the LCLF industries to achieve their decarbonisation goals.

Mr Hart said the roadmap outlines the benefits of coordinated investment across the value chain, ensuring the Australian grains industry is ready to meet both global and domestic demand for renewable fuel feedstocks.

The LCLF roadmap identifies three key horizons for industry development:

• Expanding oilseed cropping by increasing the area and productivity of oilseed crops such as canola, and revisiting alternative crops like Brassica juncea and lupin to boost feedstock supply;
• Intensifying oil production: Investing in breeding and technology to increase oil content in seeds and develop new high-oil grain crops, further improving grower returns and sustainability; and,
• Innovating with advanced biomass: Exploring new technologies to produce oil in crop residues and biomass, creating additional revenue streams and reducing carbon intensity.

With global decarbonisation policies driving global demand for LCLF — especially in hard-to-electrify sectors like aviation, marine, and heavy transport — the roadmap highlights the grains industry’s unique opportunity to supply both export and future domestic markets.

Source: GRDC