Camelina’s Hour: Syngenta, Sustainable Oils hook-up

From Illinois comes news that Syngenta Seeds and Sustainable Oils have inked a deal to sell Camelina seed – an ultra-low carbon oilseed crop that can be used as feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel and renewable fuels, and an ingredient for sustainable animal feed.

The Structure

Camelina seed will be sold through Syngenta’s AgriPro® dealer network in a vertical marketing model. Farmers who buy camelina seed will have a harvest purchase contract. There is no marketing risk for the farmer since there is already an integrated value chain model.

Camelina: the grower rationale

In addition, producing camelina is an attractive option, providing farmers with quick soil cover and improved soil structure, without displacing another crop or requiring new equipment.

Camelina, the user rationale

Camelina is a drought resilient oilseed that provides quick soil cover and improves soil structure, while Sustainable Oils’ proprietary camelina varieties and farm-to-fuel pathways can yield renewable diesel with an ultra-low lifecycle Carbon Intensity. Meaning, renewable diesel and other renewable fuels produced with Sustainable Oils’ patented camelina varieties have the potential to achieve a Net Zero or below CI score.

The Geography

Camelina seed will be marketed in select areas of Western Kansas, Colorado, Montana and the Pacific Northwest. It can be included as a spring crop in a wheat-fallow rotation in Montana and the Pacific Northwest, and as a winter crop in Kansas and Colorado.

The collaboration reflects Syngenta’s strong commitment to enabling farmers to economically adopt regenerative practices around the world. Camelina can be planted on fallow land or land left idle between crop cycles. It is valued for its low water usage, quick maturity, and resilient yields. Camelina protects land like a cover crop providing a range of environmental benefits, including soil health and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

The Bottom Line: Why Camelina, why Now?

The Digest has been bullish on camelina’s prospects for many years, and especially because it offers a unique opportunity to the grower looking to maximize land value by utilizing fallow seasons to produce a cash crop. In research, it was identified long ago that growers could achieve equivalent or higher wheat yields with a wheat-camelina-wheat rotation than a wheat-fallow-wheat cycle. That makes the camelina year solid gold real estate for growers, especially in wheat country.

Now, demand for affordable renewable diesel and SAF has soared, and project developers have been scouring the market for sustainable, available, reliable, affordable plant or waste oils. Once it was like finding haystacks, these days it’s feels like finding the needles. So, the time is nigh for a new oilseed entrant, one that does not take acres out of production for other uses, but expands the pool. Hence, our friend camelina.

Sustainable Oils has been at it for more than a decade, developing the varietals and the initial markets. Now, it’s time for one of the great global seed companies to step forward with their marketing prowess and customer networks.. Always a sign that a crop has arrived, when Syngenta comes knocking. And, here they have.

Reaction from the Stakeholders

“The collaboration of Syngenta Seeds and Sustainable Oils to sell camelina seed for use in sustainable aviation fuel, renewable diesel, and animal feed production is a significant step forward in promoting regenerative agriculture and renewable energy,” said Eric Boeck, Regional Director North America for Syngenta Seeds. “By supporting farmers and offering a sustainable source of fuel and animal feed, this partnership represents a win-win for producers, the environment, and the rural economy. It embodies our commitment to sustainability and our drive to bring innovative solutions to market.”

“We are very excited to partner with Syngenta Seeds on this collaboration to expand camelina’s growth in the U.S.,” Sustainable Oils President Mike Karst said. “Camelina represents a key feedstock for the production of renewable fuels and sustainable aviation fuel. It is a remarkable crop that protects like a cover crop and pays like a cash crop. We’re proud to be working with Syngenta to bring this opportunity to more farmers, improving our soil health and carbon storage while strengthening our nation’s domestic energy production in the process.”