Lessons Being Learned with Winter Camelina

Scaling-up and commercializing new crops is a  long-term effort, with plenty of twists and turns along the way. The cash  cover crop, winter camelina, is no different. That makes learning from early  piloting and commercialization efforts critical.

The most recent harvest marked a big step forward  for camelina, which can be made into sustainable aviation fuel and other  biofuels as well as animal feed with a lower environmental footprint. Through  a new jointly produced report, “Reflections on the 2023-2024 Piloting of  Winter Camelina: Lessons and Implications for Further Scaling”, MBOLD and U  of M Forever Green share critical reflections on field-scale production  including agronomic considerations, weather challenges, the need for  continued breeding efforts, and potential pathways for further scaling and  commercial uptake.

This warts-and-all analysis aims to deepen the  base of shared knowledge for growers and value chain partners alike and point  the way toward future growth. Thanks again to our partners and the growing  cadre of farmers who are exploring this innovative crop. You’ll find the  executive summary here and the full report here.

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