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Since harvest season 2023 has come to a close, I have taken the time to reflect on not only my role and responsibility as a steward of the land, but also what new opportunities are on the horizon for Iowa’s agricultural community to continue to feed and fuel the world. With ceaseless innovation and a desire to continue to meet the growing global demand, Iowa’s farmers are laying the foundation for a strong future.
Today more than ever, energy and agriculture are at an intersection, working together to grow the renewable fuels industry. In my role as President of Chevron Renewable Energy Group, but also as a western Iowa farmer, I have the opportunity to see this every day. In June 2022, Chevron acquired Ames-based Renewable Energy Group to help build a profitable renewable fuels business. We have a desire to be part of a broader coalition of sectors in Iowa working toward delivering a lower carbon future to society.
The foundation of the bio-based diesel industry really has its roots in agriculture, and I think we can rely on that history to learn and carry us into the future. The biodiesel industry was born from innovation, needing to find a use for excess soybean oil that was left after crushing soybeans for meal. Little did we know that nearly two decades later this industry would be growing so exponentially that now the question is not “what will we do with this oil” but instead, “where will we get enough oil”.
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I am incredibly proud of our company and employees for the work we have done to continue to build strong relationships with the agricultural industry in the time that has passed since the acquisition to help solve for some of these new questions. We have started forming several partnerships with leading agricultural businesses like Bunge and Corteva to begin growing the pool of available feedstocks for our renewable fuels production. This includes investing in new feedstock sources, including cover crops, which can be grown and crushed for oil. Through this we are not only supporting the growth of the renewable fuels industry, but also supporting our farming operations.
As we progress with harvest season, I want to take the opportunity to thank all of the farmers who are getting up early and staying up late to get the crops out of the field to help feed, clothe and fuel our world. At Chevron Renewable Energy Group, our highest priority is safety, so I want to encourage all farmers to put safety first this harvest season, and ask those not harvesting to be kind to our agricultural community- have some extra patience, share the road and take the opportunity to thank a farmer. The difference our agricultural community is making is profound, and working together, we will continue to make strides in the future.
About the author: Kevin Lucke is President of Chevron Renewable Energy Group.