Biodiesel
Biodiesel is a domestically produced, renewable fuel that can be manufactured from vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled restaurant greases. Soybeans are the primary oilseed crop grown in the U.S., and soybean oil makes up about half of the raw material to make biodiesel. Soybean farmers through the efforts of the soybean checkoff have contributed to the development of the biodiesel industry by testing biodiesel to ensure performance, establishing quality standards and to gain acceptance by engine and equipment manufacturers.
Soybeans are a perfect source for biodiesel. Soy biodiesel is made from soybean oil and is renewable fuel, that benefits farmers and the economy. If U.S. farmers used at least a B2 blend of biodiesel – 2 percent soy biodiesel with conventional diesel – that would translate into more than 50 million bushels of U.S. soybeans a year.
Biodiesel is the fastest-growing energy source in the United States according to the United States Energy Information Administration and is the only alternative fuel to meet all of the testing requirements of the 1990 amendments to the Clean Air Act.
To learn more about biodiesel, visit the National Biodiesel Board's web site.
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