LDC, Global Clean Energy, Bayer collaborate to promote camelina cultivation in Argentina

Louis Dreyfus Company, Global Clean Energy Holdings Inc. and Bayer announced in May a strategic collaboration to promote camelina cultivation as part of Bayer’s Pro Carbono Program, in line with the companies’ efforts to drive decarbonization in the supply chain and, ultimately, more efficient and sustainable agricultural production.

Camelina is used as an ultra-low carbon feedstock for advanced biofuels production.

It is an intermediate crop planted between main crops in Argentina during winter, helping to preserve soil health, especially between summer crops of soy and corn.

It is already promoted in Argentina by LDC and Global Clean Energy, as part of their strategic collaboration since 2023.

The new collaboration is aligned with LDC’s global sustainability strategy, a key focus of which is to contribute to global climate goals by driving decarbonization in its operations and supply chains, including through efforts to drive adoption of regenerative agriculture practices in key supply sheds.

“This collaboration is an important step toward more sustainable agricultural production in Argentina and is in line with LDC’s collaborative approach to sustainable business, taking into account the needs and challenges of all value-chain participants—particularly producers, on whom the global food and agricultural system depends and whose actions have such an important role in mitigating climate change,” said Juan José Blanchard, LDC’s group chief operating officer and head of Latin America.

Global Clean Energy is the world’s leading camelina producer, according to the company, with over 18 years of camelina-breeding history and more than 65,000 acres contracted in the U.S., South America and Europe in 2023.

Global Clean Energy said it is dedicated to developing and offering the most adaptable and high-yielding camelina varieties for producers, with an exclusive collection of 20 camelina varieties, including those suited for both spring and winter planting.

The company is currently developing new traits, including herbicide tolerance, to introduce camelina cultivation across a wide range of geographies and crop rotations.

Global Clean Energy has partnered with LDC to advance camelina production in South America through superior genetics delivery, camelina-seed production, crop promotion, and technical support to producers through its Camelina Company brand.

“We are excited to expand our work in Argentina with LDC by joining forces with Bayer’s Pro Carbono program,” said Noah Verleun, president and CEO of Global Clean Energy. “This strategic collaboration brings us one step closer to making camelina a key contributor to regenerative agriculture, while scaling sustainable feedstock production for advanced biofuels globally.”

Bayer promotes regenerative agriculture by combining sustainable solutions and digital tools to produce more with fewer resources while restoring nature, seeking not only to improve harvests but also to deliver positive results for the environment.

As such, and in collaboration with other industry players, Bayer’s Pro Carbono program helps producers to implement sustainable agronomic practices that increase productivity, reduce emissions and capture more carbon from the soil, in particular direct sowing, increased crop rotation, and cover-crop incorporation to keep soils covered for most of the year.

“At Bayer, we are committed to generating transformative change to achieve a carbon-neutral future for agriculture,” said Juan Farinati, president and CEO of Bayer Cono Sur and head of the Crop Science Cono Sur division. “This collaboration marks a significant milestone on the path toward more sustainable agriculture that is resilient to climate change, especially in the current global context that demands food and other products, such as fuel, with a low carbon footprint. Leading the change towards a more responsible agricultural model that restores soils is possible. In this case, by incorporating camelina as a winter cash-cover-crop alternative, in line with the goals of the Pro Carbono program.”