Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
February 20, 2025
BASF welcomed over 60 representatives from the renewable fuels, sustainability and agriculture industries to the BASF Center for Sustainable Agriculture on February 6 and 7 for the Biofuels Summit. Attendees discussed the need for coupling climate-smart agriculture with value chains, such as biofuels, sustainable aviation fuels and chemicals, and how this growing market will shape the outlook for the agriculture industry.
“BASF is proud to host the Biofuels Summit with so many passionate and knowledgeable professionals from across multiple industries,” said Paul Rea, Senior Vice President of BASF Agricultural Solutions North America. “This event is important in helping us better understand the role each of our organizations can play in pursuing a sustainable future.”
Kristy Moore, owner of Kristy Moore Consulting, LLC, served as moderator for the event’s panel and helped guide open discussions throughout the event.
“It was my pleasure to join the Biofuels Summit and discuss these important issues and opportunities facing agriculture for the foreseeable future,” Moore said. “It was an amazing discussion that fueled my passion for this industry – the collective industry – and I met so many wonderful and smart people.”
Dawn Caldwell, Executive Director of Renewable Fuels Nebraska, attended the summit and enjoyed the ability to connect with partners in other industries.
“The conversations that happened here were extremely candid, which is greatly appreciated, and I believe will help each of us that goes back to our associations or businesses at home,” Caldwell said. “It was really a joy and a well-put together conference.”
Kevin Burkum, CEO of U.S. Farmers and Ranchers in Action, a farmer-led organization advocating for U.S. agriculture and issues in conservation, was a featured panelist on the topic of decoupling carbon attributes and chain of custody.
“U.S. agriculture has enormous potential to help solve some of the world’s greatest challenges, including nutritional security, supporting livelihoods and strong rural economies, and providing agricultural resources for an energy transition,” Burkum said. “Thank you to BASF for hosting this summit to discuss the importance of developing new markets and opportunities for farmers.”
Jimmy Emmons, senior Vice President of Climate-Smart Programs for Trust In Food, served as the keynote speaker. Emmons runs Emmons Farm in Leedey, Oklahoma, where he utilizes regenerative farming practices and prizes soil health. During the event, Emmons demonstrated the resiliency of regenerative farming despite weather extremes and how his operation optimizes water resources, reduces erosion and improves organic material in the soils.
Dan Glickman, senior fellow at the Bipartisan Policy Center and former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, kicked off the summit with a fireside chat.
“The BASF Biofuel Summit was an important collection of talented individuals with diverse backgrounds and I am pleased to have had the opportunity to attend,” said Glickman. “The meeting had an extremely collaborative and open dialogue and I am hopeful the discussions held here will help guide the future of biofuels.”
As an industry leader in sustainability, BASF is helping farmers doing the Biggest Job on Earth by investing in driving renewable fuels forward. The Biofuels Summit aimed to create a collaborative environment where stakeholders discussed strategies to de-risk biofuel investments and establish a sustainable, long-term supply chain for the international market. Attendees were asked to identify challenges, address concerns, and explore opportunities for collaborative working groups.
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