cesa and Spanish Agri-Food CooperativesAn organization that brings together more than 3,600 agricultural cooperatives and more than one million members, farmers and ranchers, Promotion of second generation biofuel (2G) from waste It is produced by the Spanish agricultural and livestock industries.
Through the Cepsa Research Center, residual biomass produced by different industriessuch as olives, olives, wine or livestock, they can be turned into raw materials to produce second-generation biofuels in industrial centers. Cooperativas Agro-alimentarias de España will coordinate the communication between the company and the different cooperatives that make up the association.
2G biofuels whose raw materials do not compete with food, promoting the circular economy, because for its production wastes that would otherwise go to landfills are reused. Similarly, their use can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 90% compared to conventional fuels, making them a key element in decarbonizing sectors that are difficult to electrify, such as heavy road, marine or air transport.
Javier Antúnez, Cepsa’s Director of Biofuels, emphasized: “At Cepsa we are convinced that: advance in energy transition we must cooperate and creating synergies throughout the entire value chain. That is why we have reached this agreement with Cooperativas Agroalimentarias de España, which represents more than one million farmers and ranchers in the country, to identify new circular sources of raw materials for the production of second generation biofuels. we are also forging new alliances that attract benefits and economic development to rural areas”.
Gabriel Trenzado, managing director of Cooperativas Agro-alimentarias de España, said: “We have supported the creation of new value chains for agricultural raw materials, from bioenergy to new biomaterials for decarbonisation, by participating in various projects under the Horizon 2020 program. The case of COOPID. Cooperatives are experts in this. production and logistics in rural areas, from crops to by-product and waste management, but they need strong alliances with energy sector leaders to develop the full potential of the bioeconomy. This promising agreement with Cepsa will reach its full potential when realized in certain projects with our cooperative companies.”
The agreement also provides for the promotion of alliances with cooperatives dealing with the production of biomass from cover crops. Cepsa will be able to determine the most suitable areas and crops for planting, thanks to the work it has done with the Scientific Research High Council (CSIC). What crops are these compete with feedIt produces raw materials to produce second generation biofuels while improving soil quality and increasing rainwater holding capacity.
In this way, Cepsa continues to work to diversify the supply sources of raw materials for the production of such biofuels, one of the main challenges of the industry, while promoting greater autonomy in terms of supply and energy independence in Spain. company’s goal Leading biofuel production by 2030 2G in Spain and Portugal.
Promotion of rural development
Agri-food cooperatives provide direct employment to 123,000 people in Spain, mostly in rural areas, making them an important economic and social engine in the less populated areas of our country known as “empty Spain”. There is also the possibility of exploiting residual biomass. Developing value-added cooperatives to the activities of their farmers and ranchers, allowing them to diversify their sources of income.
Similarly, since 2023, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) rewards farmers and ranchers who have carried out at least one voluntary sustainable practice, such as developing cover crops in woody crops such as olive groves or fruit tree plantations, among others.