Bayer and BP announced a collaboration in 2026 to develop camelina seed varieties and build an oilseed value chain for biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel. Industry leaders say the move targets growing demand for low-carbon feedstocks in large transport sectors where electric power is limited. Bayer-BP collaboration is focused on expanding varieties, seed availability and market outlets so camelina can move beyond its current role as a cover crop in parts of the Northern Plains.
Demand forecasts and industry forecasts are shaping the interest: acres processed into biofuels are expected to rise sharply through the decade, with analysts projecting a 45% acres increase between 2024 and 2030. Bayer’s biofuel crops lead noted that commercial demand is driven largely by planes, ships and heavy freight that will rely on hydrocarbon-based fuels for the foreseeable future. That anticipated lift in crushing capacity is what companies say will justify investment in crop breeding, supply logistics and end-use processing.
Camelina is already familiar to many growers in the Upper Midwest as a winter annual cover crop that limits erosion and reduces weed pressure. Agronomists at the University of Minnesota and South Dakota State University point out that it fits into existing small-grain equipment and can be harvested earlier than soybeans, creating rotational flexibility for producers who want to diversify cash flows.
On-farm considerations
Farmers evaluating camelina should weigh four practical issues before planting: susceptibility to residual Group 2 and Group 15 herbicides that can carry over in soil; poor performance on heavy, wet sites; temporary storage needs if selling to processors or traders; and limited registered herbicide options for postemergence weed control. In semi-arid Upper Plains environments, disease pressure tends to be low, and camelina adds a needed broadleaf rotation choice where sunflower is often the only alternative.
Producers can structure rotations so a field yields 3 crops in 2 years by using camelina as an early harvest between major cash crops, but wider adoption hinges on stable market access and contracting. Companies such as Bayer and grain handlers including Cargill have been mentioned as potential offtakers, though commercial opportunities remain limited in many areas until processing capacity and contracts expand.
Research and market work
Public and private breeding programs are aiming for earlier maturity, larger seed and higher yields to improve camelina’s farm economics. Bayer is expanding its Newgold seed brand in the Northern Plains and is running trials in the U.S. as well as in southern Canadian provinces, with additional testing reported as far south as Texas. Wider seed availability and processor commitments will be crucial to move camelina from a niche cover crop to a marketed oilseed for biofuel feedstock.
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