Bayer, bp to scale camelina crop for biofuels

Bayer and bp have entered a long-term strategic alliance to jointly scale the crop camelina, under the brand name newgold™. The alliance will commercialize camelina starting in North America.

As per official statement, bp brings expertise in fuels and refining, while Bayer will utilize its industry leading expertise in seed technology, as well as its extensive farmer customer base. The alliance aims to further develop a reliable intermediate oilseeds market to help meet the growing demand for biodiesel, renewable diesel (RD) and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) markets which is estimated to increase almost threefold to 40 billion gallons by 2040.

Frank Terhorst, head of strategy, Bayer Crop Science division, said, “We are utilizing our industry leading breeding program to enhance the crop, and its untapped potential globally to help meet the needs of this growing market. We see this as a win for our customers and their farms, as it creates potential new revenue streams, but also a win for the renewable fuels market.”

Philipp Schoelzel, senior VP at bp, commented, “This collaboration represents bp at its best. Working with trusted partners with complementary capabilities to develop products customers want and need, while delivering value for our shareholders.”

Fuels with lower carbon intensity

This announcement follows Bayer’s acquisition of camelina assets which was announced in January 2025. As Bayer ramps up production in preparation of a full-scale launch, testing of long and short season biotypes is underway. Bayer has already introduced newgold™ camelina in the Northern Plains of the US and Southern Saskatchewan and Southern Alberta regions of Canada.

Camelina has a promising lower-carbon intensity for renewable fuel, offering flexibility to grow in both spring and winter, and requires lower inputs. Camelina is winter hardy, offering pod shatter resistance and drought tolerant characteristics allowing it to be grown on idle or fallow land, or in-between traditional main crop rotations, allowing farmers to avoid potential competition with food production.

Camelina crops sold under the ‘newgold’ seed brand will be designed with the goal of acting as a profit multiplier, giving growers the flexibility to decide how and where it fits best in their operation:

• As an intermediate crop, adding value between seasons
• Within rotations, contributing to good agronomic management while diversifying income
• On marginal or underutilized land, turning those acres into more productive assets