Latest news with #biofuels
ABC News
2 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
Mossman growers experiment with new industries as sugarcane future remains uncertain
For more than 125 years Mossman's cane growers have delivered a crop to the mill for crushing, but for some this year will be the last. Since the closure last year of their local factory near Port Douglas in Queensland's far north, farmers have been experimenting with other crops, as the future of their multi-generational industry is still uncertain. Their current harvest is trucked 100 kilometres to Mulgrave for crushing, but this subsidised short-term solution may not be sustainable long term. The Queensland government has put together a $12.5 million package announced in the budget to support Mossman cane growers with the loss of the sugar mill. About $6m of those funds will fully subsidise the cost of transporting this season's cane harvest from Mossman to Mulgrave Mill, which is critical for growers to make a profit. The other $6m will be used to work towards long term solutions and projects beyond 2025. Discussions between stakeholders are taking place about how this money is best spent. Determined to stay on the land, growers say they have no choice but to try growing crops other than cane. Fourth-generation Mossman farmer Don Murday is the deputy chair of Queensland Cane, Agriculture and Renewables, a group that advocates for sugar growers. He believes making fuel from plants is the future for Mossman, and has been trialling bana grass, a crop similar to sugarcane but without the sucrose content, used to create biofuels. He said the results had been great so far and this would most likely be his last year growing sugarcane. "The leading projects I believe in this transition are bana grass for renewable energy," he said. "I'm going to transition into bana grass with maybe a few other crops in the interim, but I won't be planning any more sugarcane. "I may well be taking the sugarcane out after this harvest." From a financial perspective, Mr Murday said using the grass to produce biomass — organic material that can be converted into a renewable energy source — was a viable option. "With the predicted tonnages of the bana grass and the price that's being offered, we're looking at gross value of between $4,000 and $5,000 per hectare with lower growing cost than sugarcane," he said. "So I believe growing the bana grass will compare very favourably to growing the sugarcane at the current prices." Matthew Watson also farms in Mossman and has been trialling different crops including coffee, cocoa, corn and sorghum. He also sees potential in bana grass, which he said was practical to grow in the district. "Bana grass is a grass the same as cane … it grows the same, you can plant it the same, cut it the same [and] we've got all the machinery to do that," Mr Watson said. "It seems to be growing really well in the trial patches that they've got around the district at the moment. Growing anything without a local processor would be challenging, and Mr Murday and Mr Watson are both apprehensive about what will become of the Mossman factory. Mr Murday said he hoped it could be turned into a biomass processing facility. "It's probably 12 to 18 months before we're going to have any commercial quantities [of bana grass] available, and one of the processes that we're looking at is could effectively be operating within 12 months from the time they're given the go-ahead," he said. For now, Mr Murday is only growing bana grass for propagation — experimenting with reproducing the plants — and not for commercial processing. Mr Watson said it would be hard to see a clear future for his farm until more decisions about ownership of the mills or new processing facilities were made. "We really just don't know, unfortunately," he said. "The killer is the not knowing what you're doing from day to day, trying not to get stuck in the negatives."
Telegraph
10-07-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
British biofuel factory undercut by US rivals faces closure
Adam Traeger, Greenergy's chief executive, said that cost cuts at its biodiesel plant aimed at improving profitability had failed to offset the impact of the US imports, which are heavily subsidised by Washington and no longer subject to an import duty following Brexit. He said a slower ramp-up in the UK's biofuels blending mandates – currently set at 14pc – compared with other European countries was also impacting production and making it impossible to commit to the investment needed to make Immingham competitive. The fuel rules are meant to lessen the emissions of transport by blending propellant with less environmentally damaging substitutes. Mr Traeger said: 'It has been an incredibly difficult decision to enter consultation on the proposed closure of our Immingham site. However, in light of continuing market pressures, we unfortunately do not have enough certainty on the outlook.' It comes after Argent Energy last year announced the closure of its Motherwell biodiesel plant in Scotland, citing the saturation of the market with Chinese imports. Greenergy will seek talks with ministers on increasing the proportion of biofuel used in the petrol and diesel supplied on UK forecourts, something it said could help protect the sector while also reducing carbon emissions from HGVs. At the same time, it said it would begin consultation on the plant's closure with affected employees as soon as possible. The Immingham site began production in 2007 and accounts for more than a quarter of UK biodiesel production, processing waste oils sourced globally to make it ready for blending. Greenergy, which has been part of Singapore-based commodities trading giant Trafigura since August, also operates a biodiesel plant on Teesside, plus a third in the Netherlands. The firm said high energy and chemicals prices combined with a flood of hydro-treated vegetable oils imported from the US had put pressure on margins to an extent that some even turned negative in certain scenarios. While the Trade Remedies Authority has begun an investigation into the situation it may take a further 12 months to reach a decision. UK policy designed to encourage a switch to biofuels has meanwhile fallen behind measures imposed in EU countries such as Germany, the Netherlands and Ireland, where it is estimated that 2030 mandates will be more than double those of the UK.
Bloomberg
10-07-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Trafigura-Owned Greenergy Mulls Closing UK Biodiesel Plant
Trafigura-owned Greenergy has begun consultations on a proposal to halt production at one of its two UK biodiesel plants, as uncertainty about the country's biofuels industry grows. Despite cost cutting efforts, the plant in Immingham, Lincolnshire 'has continued to be negatively impacted by market factors, including slower increases in the UK's biofuels blending mandates compared to European countries and competition from subsidized US-origin products,' the company said in a statement.
Zawya
08-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
FAO: Meat and dairy lift food prices as sugar falls
Global food commodity prices edged up in June 2025, driven by rising costs for meat, dairy, and vegetable oils. The Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) index FAO Food Price Index rose modestly by 0.5% from May and was 5.8% higher than a year earlier, despite falling prices for cereals and sugar. Overall, food prices remain elevated compared to last year but are still below the peak reached in early 2022. Food Price Index rises slightly in June The cereal price index fell by 1.5% in June compared to May. World maize prices declined sharply for the second month amid abundant supplies from Argentina and Brazil. Prices of sorghum and barley also decreased. Wheat prices, however, increased due to weather concerns in parts of the European Union (EU), Russia, and the United States. International rice prices dipped slightly, mainly for Indica varieties, reflecting softer demand. The vegetable oil price index rose 2.3% from May, led by gains in palm, soy, and rapeseed oils. Palm oil prices climbed nearly 5% on strong global demand. Soy oil prices increased due to expectations of higher biofuel demand in Brazil and the USA, as well as stronger soybean prices in South America. Rapeseed oil prices rose amid tight global supply, while sunflower oil prices eased due to improved production in the Black Sea region. The meat price index increased by 2.1% in June, hitting a new all-time high. Prices rose for bovine, pig, and ovine meats, while poultry prices continued to fall. Dairy prices up; sugar falls to lowest since 2021 The dairy price index rose 0.5% in June. Butter prices reached a record high amid tight supplies in Oceania and the EU, alongside strong demand from Asia. Cheese prices increased for the third consecutive month, while skim and whole milk powder prices declined due to ample supply and subdued demand. The sugar price index dropped 5.2% from May, marking its fourth consecutive monthly decline and reaching its lowest level since April 2021. This decline reflects improved production prospects in Brazil, India, and Thailand. Record global cereal production forecast FAO also released its latest Cereal Supply and Demand Brief , forecasting global cereal production in 2025 to reach an all-time high of 2,925 million tonnes—up 0.5% from last month and 2.3% above 2024 levels. This upward revision is driven by improved outlooks for wheat, maize, and rice. However, hot and dry weather in key producing regions could impact yields, particularly for maize. Wheat output is forecast at 805.3 million tonnes, boosted by higher-than-expected yields in India and Pakistan. Maize production is expected to increase due to favourable conditions in Brazil and larger planted areas in India, offsetting declines in Ukraine and the EU caused by dry weather. Rice production is projected to reach a record 555.6 million tonnes (milled basis), supported by better prospects in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Viet Nam. Despite strong overall forecasts, hot and dry weather in some key regions may reduce maize yields, posing risks to supply. Global cereal use and stocks expected to increase Global cereal utilisation in 2025/26 is forecast at 2,900 million tonnes, up 0.8% from 2024/25. Use of coarse grains has been revised upward, while wheat use forecasts were slightly lowered. Rice consumption is expected to rise, driven by food demand and ethanol production in India. World cereal stocks at the end of the 2025/26 season are projected at 889.1 million tonnes, a 2.2% increase from opening levels. The global stocks-to-use ratio is expected to rise to 30.3%, indicating a comfortable supply outlook. Cereal trade projected to grow Global cereal trade in 2025/26 is predicted to reach 486.9 million tonnes, up 1.2% from the previous year. Wheat and rice exports are forecast to increase, with rice trade reaching an all-time high of 60.8 million tonnes. Maize trade is expected to decline slightly, while trade in barley and sorghum will likely rise. The Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS), hosted by FAO, also published its monthly Market Monitor. This edition includes an article on strategic grain reserves (SGRs) and food security, offering principles to keep SGRs small, simple, and smart. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
BBC News
08-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Bradford: Campaign grows for curbs on 'stench' factory
A campaign demanding urgent action to deal with what people living nearby say is an "unbearable stench" coming from a Bradford factory is gathering Waddingtons plant, off Leeds Road, converts dead livestock, zoo animals and roadkill from across the country into biofuels and other by-products. A meeting was held at the weekend to discuss the situation during which Muhammed Ibraheem, who lives nearby, said: "The stench is like rancid garbage."JG Pears, the parent company of the Waddingtons plant, said it makes "great efforts to minimise odours beyond the site boundary" and operates "within the strict requirements" of its permit. However, residents say the odour is so strong it forces them indoors, affects their mental health and undermines community are also claims possibly toxic residue from the plant regularly floats onto parked cars nearby. Some people have conducted their own lab is now mounting on the authorities to act - and to throw out an upcoming licence review for the factory - following the public those demanding action were members of the Leeds Road Hindu have submitted a letter to Bradford Council highlighting the "intolerable" situation and "foul smell" which they said visiting dignitaries had commented on. 'Fishy, meaty' A petition has doubled its signatures since the Ummer Daraz, who has an office nearby, has been spearheading the growing campaign and is now seeking legal advice and gathering environmental regeneration projects like a new city centre railway station in the pipeline, he said tackling the matter was even more urgent."Can you imagine people coming off the train and being hit by this fishy, meaty, horrible stench?" he recalled that when he lived in the area himself "it was so overwhelming it gave me physical convulsions". The plant has been operating since 1947 and was previously an holds a Defra (department for environment, food and rural affairs) category 1 rendering licence, allowing it to process diseased animal Alistair Collins said: "Facilities like ours play a vital role in making livestock production sustainable and in preventing animal disease outbreaks. "We convert material not suitable for food into safe, reusable resources such as biofuels."He said the factory uses modern technology compliant with current Bat (best available techniques) standards, adding: "The installation is regularly inspected by environmental health officers from [the council] and we work with them constructively to ensure compliant operations."The factory operates under the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016, enforced by Bradford Council to control pollution and odour. However objectors - some from within Bradford Council - said such a facility, one of 26 across the country, had no place in a densely populated area. A council committee last year made recommendations including lobbying Defra to accelerate new odour standards and commissioning an independent health impact study. When asked for a comment, a council spokesperson said: "An investigation is currently ongoing into Waddingtons which has not concluded, therefore we are unable to comment at this time."However Imran Khan, the council's deputy leader, and Rizwana Jamil, its environment scrutiny board chair, were both at the public meeting at Laisterdyke Community Centre on Saturday where they faced a barrage of Khan said: "There's no denying there is a problem."There is a foul stench and there are perceived health issues as well."Quite frankly, it can't be allowed to continue."He added the plant was run "based on legislation developed 20 years ago which hasn't been updated".He said: "I understand it is in the process of being updated now."We are trying to feed into that process to reflect the needs of people and businesses around it."We've not had the legal power to be able to do more with it up to now."Many of those at the meeting said "enough is enough" - especially with Bradford in its City of Culture year and a flagship festival celebrating the vibrant wider Leeds Road area due at the end of Mahmood, who runs the Mahmood's burger shop near the factory, said: "Our business attracts people from outside and we are investing a lot of money into the area. "It reflects really negatively on us as a city." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
