The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is collaborating with the Department of Energy (DOE) to develop a new feedstock carbon intensity calculator aimed at helping farmers and biofuel producers quantify and monetize sustainable agricultural practices. The initiative was spotlighted at the USDA’s Agricultural Outlook Forum in February.
Jeff O'Hara, deputy director of USDA’s Office of Energy Policy and New Uses, explained how improved carbon accounting could directly link on-farm practices to the market value of ethanol. Brian Jennings, CEO of the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), said these developments reflect how ethanol producers increasingly view carbon intensity metrics not as regulatory burdens, but as strategic tools for accessing global markets.
