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Gevo CEO says USDA’s Climate Smart Ag policy will benefit biofuels industry 

The CEO of Gevo says USDA’s interim rule including climate smart ag practices could create new opportunities to improve efficiency and economic value for biofuels.

Patrick Gruber says the proposed rule gives farmers clarity for accessing the benefits of eligible practices.

“No till, reduced till, cover crops, nitrification inhibitors, the timing of how you applied your nitrogen application, and if you avoided your fall nitrogen application,” he says. “If you add them up it can have a significant impact on the footprint.”

He tells Brownfield the rule is a good step for future 45Z guidance. 

“I think everybody who’s looking at this stuff better be paying attention,” he says. “This is the right direction. It pays for performance and requires you to have to take steps to improve and create a new benefit. These things work to preserve your soil and they do enhance yields.”

Gruber says the final rule will need to include measures to extend the policy beyond the two-year time period. 

A 60-day public comment period on the interim rule is available at regulations.gov.