Nuseed has developed a seed that provides maximum impact in the soil, on the land and in the air. With strategic deployment, a trusted carbon stewardship program, scalable global supply and regulatory excellence, Nuseed Carinata is accelerating the shift to net zero energy sources.
By keeping carbon in the soil and using its oil as a low-carbon biofuel for aviation, Nuseed Carinata is a powerful crop when it comes to reaching carbon positive goals says Glenn Johnston, who leads Global Regulatory for Nuseed Carinata.
He says: “We are focused on quantifying and decreasing carbon emissions, specifically focusing on soil carbon capture, and measurable GHG reduction achieved through traceability in supply and the ability to generate the data required to demonstrate ‘net zero’ or better performance.”
And, this is only the start. Not only is Nuseed looking at other ways to use the low-carbon fuel, it’s also working across four continents expanding product development and implementing commercial production programs.
It starts in the soil
Nuseed’s method in reaching climate positive begins in the soil.
As a cover crop with no additional land requirements and through the use of sustainable agricultural practices, carinata is able to pull carbon out of the atmosphere and have a meaningful impact on carbon accumulation in soils, says Johnston.
“Carinata has a rapid developing root structure to support the large above ground biomass. The deep tap root is helpful in soil decompaction and nutrient uptake. Given Nuseed Carinata production systems are primarily no till, the below ground biomass has a high propensity for carbon sequestration and building of soil carbon.”
On the land
Nuseed Carinata is grown with a focus on compliance when it comes to land use requirements and minimizing land use change, all in a manner that can improve soil and take pressure off the finite resource of existing arable land. The overall production system is executed in compliance with the standards of the Roundtable of Sustainable Biomaterials.
Its commercial programs are designed to maximize GHG reduction by incentivizing farmers on conservation and sustainable agriculture practices.
And in return, it provides an additional revenue for farmers and they can also benefit from:
- Increased moisture and nutrient holding capacity for plant growth
- Introduction of biodiversity into their crop rotation
- Disease and pest control through a bio-fumigation effect
And the end product…
The primary products made from carinata are oil and a high protein non-GMO meal for livestock feed.
Carinata oil is now being used as a feedstock for Sustainable Aviation Fuel, low-carbon diesel, coprocessing and biodiesel, with regulatory clearances in place or underway in all major biofuel markets. And, with Nuseed expanding product development and implementing commercial production programs across the globe, this will only increase in usage.
This is a considerable step forward in displacing high GHG intense fossil fuels and getting Nuseed and the planet closer to net zero energy sources and ultimately reaching the climate positive goal.
