TL/DR –
The increase of biofuel production for aviation use in North Dakota, largely from corn and soybean crops, is threatening the ecosystems of bee populations and causing land transformations. The shift to biofuels is due to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and President Biden’s Sustainable Airline Fuel Grand Challenge in 2021, which drove interest in jet biofuel and incentivized its production. This activity is also being driven by CORSIA, a global initiative aiming to stabilize GHG emissions from international flights, but the increase of cropland necessary to grow these crops for biofuel endangers food production, biodiversity, and traditional beekeeping industries.
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Beekeepers wary of biofuel expansion in North Dakota
The serene town of Gackle, North Dakota, has been home to the Miller family of beekeepers for the past five decades. Gackle, situated around 70 miles east of Bismarck, is renowned for its sprawling fields of delicate sweet clover, alfalfa and a rich diversity of other plant life that makes it a haven for bees.
North Dakota: A honey production powerhouse
North Dakota has for a long time been a leading producer of honey, yielding about 40 million pounds annually, contributing nearly $67 million to the state’s economy. The fields of wild grasses and the diligent bees that frequent them each year make this possible.
A dwindling bee paradise
According to Jason Miller, the idyllic bee paradise of Gackle is gradually changing, with vast tracts of corn and soybeans replacing the diverse plant life. With corn production quadrupling to 16.5 million acres since the turn of the century, the shift in vegetation is causing a significant threat to the bees.
The rise in corn and soybean production has been fueled mainly by increased use of these crops in the production of biofuel, and more recently, the growing interest in using them to create a new kind of biofuel as a replacement for conventional jet fuel, which is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions.
Push for biofuels and its impact
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 set a U.S. renewable fuel standard aiming at reducing dependence on foreign oil. This interest was accelerated in 2021 by President Joe Biden’s “Sustainable Airline Fuel Grand Challenge”, which offered tax incentives to encourage the production of 3 billion gallons of jet biofuel by the end of the decade. This was intended to reduce the carbon footprint of air travel and increase demand for U.S. corn and soybeans, especially in light of the growing popularity of electric vehicles.
However, the production of jet biofuel from corn or soybeans has its downside. Studies, including one by research scientist Braden Limb from Colorado State University, predict that it will trigger significant land transformation. The study estimates that about 50% more cropland will be needed for corn and soybeans to meet 2050’s SAF production targets.
The conversion of land for mono-cultures of corn and soybeans could have a detrimental effect on bee populations, posing a significant risk for food production. This is a significant concern for beekeepers like Jason Miller, who has seen his bee colonies weakening over time.
The importance of bees and the threat they face
The bees that proliferate in North Dakota are a crucial part of a $400 million U.S. pollination industry. These bees embark on a pollination circuit in the spring, moving from almond to apple and stone fruit orchards across the West, before returning to North Dakota by late summer to produce honey.
However, bees are already under threat from various sources, including diseases, pesticides, and poor nutrition. Stressed bees are susceptible to colony collapses, a phenomenon that saw U.S. beekeepers lose more than half their hives just a year ago. The changing land use, from diverse grasslands to fields of corn and soybeans, is a growing concern.
Air travel and greenhouse gas emissions
As air travel demand increases, so does its impact on the climate. The International Air Travel Association reports that air traffic rose by more than 10% between 2023 and 2024, making it one of the fastest-growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Aviation contributes about 2.5% of global carbon dioxide emissions and is responsible for at least 3.5% of human-caused climate change.
In response to this, airlines have been exploring options to lower emissions, such as biofuel use. The airline industry has committed to using biofuel, and the International Civil Aviation Organization has set an ambitious target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, a goal that will necessitate substantial biofuel inputs.
The future of biofuels
There are efforts in place that might prevent the large-scale transformation of grasslands into biofuel crops. In 2022, the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit, part of Biden’s landmark Inflation Reduction Act, created additional incentives for the domestic production and sale of low-carbon transportation fuels. However, a Republican tax and spending bill passed later that summer reduced the credit for SAF from $1.75 per gallon to $1. This change could make it harder for SAF to compete with regular jet fuel on cost.
Despite the challenges and uncertainties surrounding the future of biofuels, agricultural groups are expressing enthusiasm over the potential for jet biofuel, particularly given the effect that the rise of electric vehicles is having on the conventional ethanol markets. These groups are lobbying for more government incentives to promote the use of corn and soybeans for SAF.
As the future of biofuels hangs in the balance, beekeepers like the Millers in North Dakota worry about how the production of sustainable aviation fuel could alter the landscape further unless the rules are set right.
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