Examples of Biofuel Crops: What Farmers Grow to Power Ethanol, Biodiesel, and Advanced Fuels

Examples of biofuel crops include corn, sugarcane, sugar beet, cassava, wheat and sorghum for ethanol; soybeans, rapeseed/canola, palm oil, sunflower, camelina, jatropha, pongamia, castor and peanut for biodiesel and renewable diesel; dedicated energy grasses like switchgrass, miscanthus, giant reed, napier grass and reed canary grass; short-rotation trees such as willow, poplar and eucalyptus; and emerging options like algae, carinata and pennycress. These crops are cultivated globally to produce transportation fuels and heat, with choices varying by climate, policy and market demand.

How Biofuel Crops Are Classified

Biofuel crops generally fall into three broad categories. First-generation crops are rich in sugars, starches or oils and are converted to ethanol or biodiesel using mature technologies—think corn, sugarcane and soybean. Second-generation “cellulosic” crops are high-biomass plants and short-rotation woody species that can be converted to fuels via biochemical or thermochemical pathways; switchgrass, miscanthus and poplar are notable examples. Third-generation feedstocks include algae and other emerging sources designed to deliver high oil or carbohydrate yields with potentially lower land-use impacts.

Examples by Fuel Type

Ethanol feedstocks (starch and sugar)

The crops below are primarily used to produce fuel ethanol via fermentation, with regional preferences driven by agronomy and policy.

• Corn (maize) — The dominant ethanol crop in the United States and parts of China.
• Sugarcane — A leading ethanol source in Brazil, India and Thailand, with high yields and co-generated power from bagasse.
• Sugar beet — Common in the European Union for efficient sugar-to-ethanol conversion.
• Wheat — Used in Europe and China, often when surplus or lower-grade grain is available.
• Cassava (manioc) — Important in Southeast Asia and parts of Africa for starch-based ethanol.
• Sorghum (grain and sweet sorghum) — Valued in arid regions and for dual-use (grain and sugary stalks).
• Barley — Used at smaller scale in cooler climates with existing grain infrastructure.
• Energy cane — High-fiber sugarcane variants suited for both first- and second-generation ethanol.

These crops feed well-established ethanol industries, with sugar- and starch-rich feedstocks offering reliable conversion efficiencies and broad blending compatibility in gasoline.

Biodiesel and renewable diesel feedstocks (oils)

Oilseed crops are processed into biodiesel (via transesterification) or renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (via hydrotreating), with feedstock choice shaped by climate, land availability and sustainability rules.

• Soybean — Widely used in the Americas for biodiesel and renewable diesel.
• Rapeseed/Canola — A staple in Europe, Canada and Australia for biodiesel and HEFA-based fuels.
• Palm oil — A high-yield tropical oil in Indonesia and Malaysia; expansion is closely scrutinized for deforestation risks.
• Sunflower — An alternative oilseed in Europe, Ukraine and Argentina.
• Camelina — A low-input oilseed for temperate regions, piloted for renewable diesel and SAF.
• Jatropha curcas — A non-edible tropical oilseed with mixed commercial results due to yield variability.
• Pongamia (Millettia pinnata/Karanj) — A hardy tree legume in India and Australia producing oil-rich seeds.
• Castor bean — Suited to semi-arid zones; used in specialty biodiesel blends for favorable cold-flow properties.
• Peanut (groundnut) — Occasionally used in biodiesel where surplus or lower-grade oil is available.

Together, these oilseeds supply feedstock for biodiesel, renewable diesel and emerging SAF markets, with growth increasingly guided by sustainability certification and indirect land-use change safeguards.

Cellulosic energy crops (lignocellulosic)

Dedicated high-biomass grasses are cultivated for second-generation biofuels and bioenergy, offering improved greenhouse gas profiles when grown on marginal land.

• Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) — Native to North America; well-studied for cellulosic ethanol and pellets.
• Miscanthus × giganteus — A sterile hybrid grass with high yields in Europe and the United States.
• Giant reed (Arundo donax) — A robust Mediterranean grass; cultivation is controlled due to invasiveness risks.
• Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum, elephant grass) — A tropical high-yield forage and energy grass.
• Reed canary grass — Suited to cooler, wetter climates; used for combustion and conversion trials.
• Biomass sorghum — Bred for tall, fibrous growth and high tonnage.

These crops target low-carbon fuels and power, with research focused on conversion efficiency, logistics and environmental performance on non-prime farmland.

Short-rotation woody crops

Fast-growing trees support bioenergy, biofuels and biochemicals, often harvested on 2–7 year cycles.

• Willow (Salix spp.) — Coppiced systems in Europe and North America for chips and pellets.
• Poplar (Populus spp.) — Popular in temperate regions for cellulosic ethanol and biopower.
• Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp.) — High-yield in subtropical/tropical zones; used for power and advanced fuels.
• Leucaena leucocephala — A leguminous tree for warm climates; prized for rapid growth and coppicing.

Woody feedstocks complement grasses by offering dense biomass, established silviculture practices and co-benefits like erosion control when responsibly managed.

Emerging and non-traditional feedstocks

New and niche crops aim to deliver higher yields, lower inputs or off-season production to mitigate food-versus-fuel tensions.

• Algae (microalgae and seaweeds) — Researched for high oil content and rapid growth; commercial scaling continues to face cost challenges.
• Carinata (Brassica carinata) — An oilseed developed for renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel supply chains.
• Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense) and winter canola — Cover-crop oils in temperate rotations, adding off-season feedstock.
• Advanced energy beets and industrial sugarcane — Engineered lines for improved sugar or fiber yield.
• Hemp — Fiber and hurd for cellulosic fuels and bioproducts; seed oil has niche biodiesel uses.

While promising, most of these feedstocks are in early commercialization, with performance, costs and sustainability outcomes still being validated at scale.

Regional snapshots

Biofuel crop choices reflect local agronomy and policy frameworks, from blending mandates to sustainability criteria.

• United States — Corn ethanol dominates; soybean, canola and camelina feed biodiesel/renewable diesel and SAF; pilots on switchgrass, miscanthus and biomass sorghum continue.
• Brazil — Sugarcane ethanol is central; soybean oil supports biodiesel; energy cane and cellulosic ethanol from cane residues are expanding.
• European Union — Wheat and sugar beet for ethanol; rapeseed and sunflower for biodiesel; trials in miscanthus and short-rotation coppice; stricter sustainability rules under RED III.
• India — Sugarcane and molasses ethanol, with sweet sorghum, cassava and grains supplementing; pongamia and jatropha are under varied development.
• China — Corn, wheat and cassava ethanol in select provinces; rapeseed for biodiesel; biomass crops and seaweed in R&D.
• Southeast Asia — Cassava and sugarcane ethanol (Thailand, Vietnam); palm-based biodiesel (Indonesia, Malaysia); napier grass pilots.
• Africa — Sugarcane, cassava and sweet sorghum projects; jatropha mixed results; growing interest in woody and grass energy crops.
• Australia — Sugarcane, sorghum and canola form the base; pongamia and eucalypts feature in regional initiatives.

Across regions, sustainability standards and land-use protections increasingly shape which crops scale, favoring high-yield, low-ILUC options and off-season or marginal-land production.

Sustainability considerations

Not all biofuel crops deliver the same climate or ecological benefits. Outcomes depend on yield, inputs, land-use change, and co-product utilization. Palm oil expansion into high-carbon landscapes is a key concern, prompting certification schemes and policy restrictions. Conversely, energy grasses and short-rotation trees on degraded lands can improve soil carbon and biodiversity when well managed. Advanced pathways—cellulosic fuels and HEFA-based aviation fuels from sustainable oilseeds and waste lipids—are central to net-zero strategies, though costs and supply constraints remain real challenges.

Summary

Biofuel crops range from conventional sugar, starch and oilseed staples (corn, sugarcane, soy, rapeseed, palm, sunflower) to dedicated energy grasses (switchgrass, miscanthus), fast-growing trees (willow, poplar, eucalyptus) and emerging options (algae, carinata, pennycress, pongamia). The right choice depends on local agronomy, policy and sustainability safeguards, with market growth increasingly favoring high-yield, low-impact feedstocks that can support advanced fuels—especially renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel—while minimizing competition with food and natural ecosystems.

What are the examples of biofuels?

Examples of biofuels include bioethanol (from corn, sugarcane, or sugar beets), biodiesel (from vegetable oils, animal fats, or used cooking oil), biogas (from the digestion of organic waste), and primary biofuels like wood or biomass, which are used directly as fuel. These are all renewable energy sources produced from recent organic materials, such as plants, animal matter, and organic waste.
 
Types of Biofuel and Their Sources

• Bioethanol: An alcohol produced from the fermentation of sugars or starches found in crops like corn, sugarcane, and sugar beets. It’s often blended with gasoline for use in vehicles. 
• Biodiesel: A fuel made from vegetable oils (like canola or soybean oil), animal fats, or used cooking oil. 
• Biogas: A mixture of gases, primarily methane, created from the anaerobic digestion of organic materials such as animal manure and other waste. 
• Green Diesel: A renewable fuel, similar to biodiesel, derived from algae and other plant sources. 
• Primary Biofuels: These are organic materials used in their natural form for energy, including: 
  • Wood: Firewood and wood chips used for heating and electricity. 
  • Dung: Animal waste used directly for energy. 
  • Straw & Grass: Plant materials used for heat and power. 

Sources of Biofuel (Biomass)
Biofuels are derived from various organic materials, including: 

• Edible crops: Corn, sugarcane, and soybeans.
• Non-edible plant matter: Cellulosic materials like wheat straw, corn stover, and switchgrass.
• Waste materials: Used cooking oil, animal fats, and municipal solid waste.
• Algae: A newer source for next-generation biofuels.

What crops are biofuel?

Some examples of biofuel crops include corn, sugarcane, palm oil, cottonseed, sunflowers, wheat and soybean.

What is the highest yielding biodiesel crop?

Table of biodiesel crop yields

Crop	kg oil/ha/yr	litres oil/ha
oil palm	5000	5950
Copaifera langsdorffii	3670	4000
Millettia pinnata	9000	5612
algae (open pond)	80000	95000

What is the most common plant used for biofuel?

Biofuels are renewable substitutes for fossil fuels that are mainly produced from crop plants such as corn, soybeans, wheat, and sugarcane. But animal fats and other byproducts, along with household food waste, can also be used to make biofuels.