Best Plants for Biodiesel in 2025: What to Grow, Where, and Why

The best plants for biodiesel are rapeseed/canola, high-oleic sunflower, soybean, sustainably certified oil palm in the tropics, and newer low-input oilseeds like camelina, carinata, pennycress, and pongamia—each chosen for a balance of oil yield, fuel quality, agronomic fit, and sustainability. Which one is “best” depends on climate, policy, land use, and whether you need cold-weather performance, highest per-hectare output, or lowest carbon intensity.

What makes a plant “best” for biodiesel

Biodiesel (FAME) quality and economics hinge on more than raw yield. Fuel properties come from the oil’s fatty-acid profile, while sustainability and policy credits can make or break a project. These are the core criteria growers and producers use to judge plant-based feedstocks.

• Oil yield per hectare: More liters of oil per hectare directly lower feedstock cost. Palm is the global yield leader; rapeseed and sunflower are strong in temperate zones; emerging perennials like pongamia can be competitive once mature.
• Fatty-acid profile (fuel quality): Monounsaturated-rich oils (high-oleic canola/sunflower) produce biodiesel with a strong mix of cold-flow, cetane, and oxidation stability. Saturated-rich oils (palm) raise cloud points but boost cetane; polyunsaturated-rich oils (soy) improve cold flow but may need antioxidants.
• Agronomy and inputs: Low fertilizer and water needs, pest resistance, and the ability to fit into existing rotations (or grow on marginal land) reduce costs and emissions.
• Sustainability and land use: Avoiding deforestation and high indirect land-use change (ILUC) is crucial, especially under EU RED III, California LCFS, and CORSIA rules. Certifications (e.g., RSPO for palm) matter.
• Supply chain and co-products: Meal for animal feed (soy, rapeseed) or fiber/straw and cover-crop services (pennycress, camelina) can tilt the economics.
• Compatibility with process: All plant oils work for FAME biodiesel; most also suit hydrotreated renewable diesel (HVO), which tolerates a wider range of fatty acids.

In practice, the “best” feedstock is the one that delivers reliable volumes at a competitive cost per liter of compliant, low-carbon fuel within local agronomic and policy realities.

Top biodiesel plants by region and use case

Global high-yield staples

These crops dominate biodiesel markets due to proven agronomy, large existing supply chains, and broadly suitable fuel properties—though each has regional strengths and caveats.

• Rapeseed/Canola (temperate regions): High-oleic varieties deliver a near-ideal FAME profile with good cold-flow and oxidation stability. Typical oil yields are about 1,100–1,500 liters/ha. A mainstay for European biodiesel due to engine performance and established rotation fit.
• Sunflower (prefer high-oleic types): Comparable to rapeseed on fuel quality; oil yields roughly 900–1,600 liters/ha. Often favored where sunflower already fits farmer rotations and water constraints.
• Soybean (Americas, Asia): Ubiquitous and reliable but lower oil yield per hectare (around 450–700 liters/ha). Strong co-product economics via high-protein meal. Biodiesel from soy has decent cold-flow but can benefit from antioxidants to enhance stability.
• Oil Palm (tropics): The volume leader with very high oil yields (roughly 3,700–5,000+ liters/ha). FAME from palm has high cloud points (poor cold-weather performance) but high cetane; renewable diesel processing offsets cold-flow constraints. Sustainability is decisive—RSPO or national schemes and no-deforestation sourcing are essential in many markets.

For large-scale, year-round plants, these four underpin global biodiesel supply. Rapeseed and high-oleic sunflower shine in colder climates; soy brings scale and co-products; palm unlocks the most oil per hectare where sustainability criteria are met.

Climate-resilient or low-input alternatives

Newer or niche oilseeds can cut inputs, add off-season revenue, or grow on marginal land—appealing for carbon intensity and farm economics. Their markets are expanding alongside renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

• Camelina sativa (semi-arid, short season): Low input needs, fits as a spring or fall-planted rotation crop; typical oil yields around 300–800 liters/ha. FAME may need antioxidants due to higher polyunsaturates; also valued for HEFA/renewable diesel and SAF.
• Brassica carinata (Ethiopian mustard): Suited to cover-crop or off-season production in some subtropical/temperate zones; oil yields roughly 700–1,200 liters/ha. Often directed to hydroprocessed fuels; for FAME, high long-chain unsaturates can affect cold-flow unless blended.
• Pennycress/CoverCress (Midwest U.S. cover crop): Grown between corn/soy seasons; oil yields about 400–800 liters/ha without displacing food crops. Emerging commercial supply chains target renewable diesel/SAF; FAME is typically blended.
• Pongamia/Karanja (tropical–subtropical perennial): Nitrogen-fixing tree with moderate inputs, maturing to potentially 1,000–2,000+ liters/ha. Oil tends to be oleic-rich, producing good-quality FAME; trees require several years to reach full yield.
• Jatropha (arid/semi-arid): Initially overhyped; yields vary widely (roughly 500–1,500 liters/ha) and depend on breeding, irrigation, and management. FAME quality is serviceable; success hinges on agronomy and site selection.
• Coconut and palm kernel (tropics): “Lauric” oils can produce biodiesel with favorable cold-flow compared with palm, but supply is smaller and often premium-priced; used more in blends or specialty applications.
• Castor (select arid zones, industrial markets): High oil content but unusual chemistry (ricinoleic acid) makes neat FAME too viscous for many diesel specs; better suited to specialty chemicals than mainstream biodiesel.

These options won’t replace the big four everywhere, but they expand choices—particularly for low-carbon, low-input strategies, off-season income, and hydroprocessed fuels driving aviation demand.

How the leading plants compare on fuel performance

Fuel performance comes down to cold-flow, cetane, oxidation stability, and compatibility with diesel standards. Blending and additives can tailor outcomes, but the starting oil profile matters.

• Best balance for standard FAME biodiesel: High-oleic rapeseed/canola and high-oleic sunflower offer strong cold-flow, good oxidative stability, and high cetane—making them top picks in temperate markets.
• Cold-weather considerations: Soy biodiesel flows better than palm but may need antioxidants. Lauric oils (coconut/palm kernel) can help blends in cold climates, but pure lauric FAME is uncommon in bulk markets.
• High-cetane but higher cloud point: Palm-based FAME has excellent cetane yet poor cold-flow; it’s often blended or diverted to renewable diesel (HVO), which eliminates cold-flow issues.
• Emerging oilseeds: Camelina and pennycress FAME often benefit from antioxidants or blending; carinata is frequently routed to hydroprocessed fuels; pongamia yields a generally engine-friendly FAME profile.

For fleets running neat FAME in cold climates, high-oleic canola/sunflower are usually safest. Where renewable diesel is available, more feedstocks become viable because HVO meets fossil-diesel cold-flow specs.

Sustainability and policy realities in 2024–2025

Policy is reshaping “best” choices. The EU’s RED III tightens sustainability and ILUC scrutiny and continues a phase-down of high-ILUC-risk palm. U.S. programs (RFS, California LCFS, and the federal 45Z clean fuel production credit starting 2025) reward low carbon intensity, favoring low-input crops, cover crops, and certified deforestation-free oils. Aviation demand via CORSIA and national SAF mandates is also lifting camelina, carinata, and pennycress.

• Certifications: RSPO (palm), ISCC/REDcert (EU), and national schemes are increasingly required for market access and better crediting.
• Land-use safeguards: Expanding on existing cropland or using cover crops can avoid ILUC penalties and improve lifecycle carbon scores.
• Carbon intensity (CI) accounting: Fertilizer use, irrigation, and transport dominate CI; low-input crops and local crushing improve scores under LCFS/45Z-type programs.

The trend is clear: compliance and carbon accounting are as decisive as agronomy. Feedstocks that fit rotations, avoid land conversion, and document sustainability gain a price and policy edge.

Practical recommendations

Here’s how producers and growers can match plants to goals, climates, and markets while balancing oil yield, fuel quality, and sustainability.

1. Temperate row-crop regions: Prioritize high-oleic canola/rapeseed and high-oleic sunflower for premium FAME; add camelina or pennycress as cover crops to boost low-CI volumes and off-season income.
2. Americas with soy infrastructure: Use soybean for scale and meal value; optimize biodiesel quality with antioxidants or blend with high-oleic oils. Consider renewable diesel pathways to widen feedstock flexibility.
3. Tropics: Source RSPO-certified palm for volume where policy allows; complement with coconut or emerging pongamia plantings for diversification and, where needed, better cold-flow blending components.
4. Arid/semi-arid or marginal lands: Evaluate pongamia (long-term perennial returns) or improved jatropha lines; ensure water and management plans are realistic before scaling.
5. Renewable diesel/SAF producers: Camelina, carinata, pennycress, and certified palm/soy/canola all work well in HVO/HEFA, where cold-flow limits are less restrictive and CI gains can be substantial.

Choosing among these options should align with local agronomy, existing crush/logistics, and the policy incentives that determine netback per ton of oil produced.

Beyond terrestrial plants: what about algae?

While not a “plant” in the traditional sense, microalgae often enter this conversation because of their theoretical oil yields and non-arable land potential. Commercial-scale algal biodiesel remains limited by cost, but ongoing R&D keeps algae in the long-term picture—particularly for high-value aviation fuels.

Summary

If you need biodiesel that runs well in engines and earns policy credits, high-oleic rapeseed/canola and high-oleic sunflower are the most broadly “best” choices in temperate regions. Soybean wins on scale and co-products but has lower oil yield per hectare. In the tropics, sustainably certified palm delivers unmatched volumes but needs blending or hydroprocessing to address cold-flow. Low-input alternatives—camelina, carinata, pennycress, and pongamia—are rising fast on the strength of carbon intensity and rotation fit, especially where renewable diesel and SAF demand is growing. The optimal answer is regional and policy-driven: pair the right crop with the right process, prove sustainability, and the “best” biodiesel plant will usually reveal itself in both the fuel tank and the balance sheet.

What is the most promising biofuel?

Renewable diesel was found the best fuel type, followed by biodiesel and ethanol. Waste biomass is preferred over lignocellulosic and 1st generation carbon sources. Benefits from demand-side measures are on pair with improving biofuel manufacturing.

What plants can be used to make biodiesel?

Sugarcane and corn are used to make ethanol, which is often used as an additive to gasoline, while soybeans and rapeseed (canola) are used to create biodiesel. These plant-derived fuels can be used on their own to drive combustion engines but more often they are blended with traditional gasoline or diesel.

What is the best crop for biodiesel?

In the United States, soybeans are the dominant biodiesel feedstock.

• Camelina.
• Safflower and Sunflower.
• Warm Climate Feedstocks.
• Jatropha.
• Potential Oilseed Crops.
• Used and waste oil.
• Animal Fats.
• Algae.

What crops are suitable for bio oil production?

Crops used to make biofuels are generally either high in sugar (such as sugarcane, sugarbeet, and sweet sorghum), starch (such as maize and tapioca) or oils (such as soybean, rapeseed, coconut, sunflower).