Aeternum's Sustainable Biodiesel Feedstock 

Biofuels have to increasingly prove their sustainability and greenhouse gas credentials - particularly to meet EU policy targets in 2020. However, the production of biofuels is not just a choice between 'food and fuel'. 

Aeternum believes that sustainable biodiesel production is about efficient use of land with initially two commodity products from a single land area - sustainable biofuel and high protein feed. These important co-products and the roles they play in our food markets are frequently missing from the sometimes simplistic debate about sustainable biofuels. 

With the EU experiencing a large trade deficit in proteins, biofuel co-products such as dried distillers' grains, beet pulp and oilseed meals offer an important source of domestic protein, which helps to reduce our reliance on imported crops. 

Sustainable biofuels also provide a new market for cereals and oilseeds which helps to keep well invested and highly skilled arable production capacity in the EU. This in turn ensures agriculture can respond effectively and efficiently to future increased demand in both food and non-food markets. 

Sustainable biofuels therefore provide the ideal opportunity to produce bioenergy while maintaining productive arable land.  In addition to the substantial potential for carbon savings and providing a domestic feed protein source, other advantages of having a home grown energy source include adding diversity to fuel supplies, increasing energy security, economic competitiveness and the creation of green jobs.