The Scientific Research High Council (CSIC) and Cepsa have signed an agreement to explore opportunities for research into planting energy cover crops in rural Spain. The goal is to cultivate crops that can feed second-generation biofuels while supporting sustainable land use and rural development.
As an initial step, the partners will jointly undertake a technical and economic study across different regions to identify suitable planting areas. The study will consider the feasibility of afforestation, the best matching products for each location, and the corresponding CO2 absorption capacities.
Expand circular raw material supply
Javier Antúnez, Cepsa’s director of Biofuels, explains that the agreement aims to broaden the circular sourcing of materials for second-generation biofuels. This effort supports decarbonisation in sectors with complex electrification and reduces heavy transportation by road, sea, or air. It also aims to create new economic and development opportunities for rural Spain.
Cover crops protect soil during planting and can boost soil fertility, increase the soil’s rainwater retention, and enhance CO2 capture. They act as a shield against soil erosion and, at the same time, help to improve land quality and resilience.
Promoting this type of crop allows land to be used more profitably, increasing its productivity and providing diversified income, while supporting year-round agricultural activity.
Non-food products
There is potential to promote non-food crops in Spain by using land not devoted to food production or by cultivating during periods when fields are not tilled. Leonardo Velasco, a CSIC Institute for Sustainable Agriculture researcher, notes this opportunity for Spain.
Velasco also highlights ongoing research into new crops that could supply raw materials for biofuel production. The focus remains on sustainable management of natural resources such as soil and water and on renewable energy sources.
Reduce CO2 emissions
Biomass produced from these crops can be used to generate biofuels with the potential to cut carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 90 percent. This reinforces the need for reliable raw material supplies for biofuel production, a central challenge for the sector. By 2030, the partnership envisions an annual production capacity of about 2.5 million tons from these resources.
CSIC’s involvement aligns with its policy to transfer research results to the private sector so public research can have tangible societal impact. This project-led initiative is part of the Green Horizon Interdisciplinary Thematic Platform, involving three CSIC centers: the Sustainable Agriculture Institute, the National Institute of Agriculture and Food Research and Technology, and the Grease Institute.
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The initiative emphasizes collaboration across research and industry to advance sustainable biofuel production and rural development.