Soybean oil makes up 42% of feedstocks for biodiesel and renewable diesel but yellow grease and corn oil are cutting into its market share, buoyed by lower carbon intensity scores under California's low carbon fuel standard program, three economists write. Meanwhile, imports of used cooking oil, mostly from China, are rising significantly and have displaced "over 500 million renewable diesel gallons worth of domestic feedstock" like soy and canola oil "and could easily rise to a billion or more gallons in 2024," says American Soybean Association chief economist Scott Gerlt.

Demands for renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuels are expected to grow during the next 10 years, boosting demand for resources such as soybean, canola and other oils and fats, according to a report from the University of Missouri's Food & Agricultural Policy Research Institute. The report also forecasts modest growth in blending requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard.

As a Georgia plant gears up to make the first commercial quantities of sustainable aviation fuel made from ethanol, companies around the world are investing in SAF facilities, initiatives are promoting the planting of SAF feedstocks like camelina and manufacturers are developing methods to make fuel from a variety of agricultural wastes. "Diversification matters," says Aaron Robinson, IAG's vice president for sustainable aviation fuel in the US.

The chemical properties of monounsaturated fatty acids are key to the health benefits of olive oil and other vegetable oils. "Olive oil is mainly composed of triglycerides, which consist of three fatty acids linked to a glycerol molecule and represent more than 97 percent of the olive oil," said Nuno Rodrigues, a researcher at the Centro de Investigação de Montanha of the Polytechnic Institute in Bragança, Portugal.

Compostable bioplastics have the potential to boost recycling by making composting food and yard waste easier for consumers and processors, but how they affect the composting process and the environment has not been extensively researched. "These early generation [bioplastic] alternatives are very imperfect, but from our perspective, redesigning packaging is the right direction," said Eric Roy, an assistant professor of environmental sciences at the University of Vermont.

Scientists from Texas A+M University report that incorporating algae into the diet of chickens boosts levels of protein and omega-3 fatty acids. Their research, published in Frontiers, also notes the potential environmental benefits of expanded algae use.

For the latest research and innovations in fats, oils, surfactants, proteins and related materials, attend the 2024 AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo in Montréal, April 28-May 1. As an attendee, you will have access to exciting networking opportunities and an extensive technical program, including full access to the co-located Sustainable Protein Forum. Register today.

Lipid oxidation is one of the major pathways for the chemical degradation of food quality, leading to food waste. This short course will provide background on the causes of lipid oxidation, antioxidant chemistry and how lipid oxidation and antioxidant activity can be monitored. We will examine how oxidation reactions differ between foods and how to develop prevention strategies for different food matrices. Register here.