Federal funding is an important component of the biodiesel industry’s resource pool, expanding opportunities for enhanced outreach, education and research.

Among the most significant pathways to access federal funding is through the Biodiesel Fuel Education Program. Federal program targets include:

• Enhancing current efforts to collect and disseminate biodiesel information.
• Coordinating with other biodiesel educational or promotional programs.
• Creating a nationwide networking system to deliver biodiesel information to targeted audiences.
• Identifying and documenting the benefits of biodiesel.
• Addressing information gaps regarding biodiesel education.

This is the third time the program has been open to applicants, and the third time NBB received a significant portion of the grant. If funds remain available, the grant will continue through 2018. The funding is made available through the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Farm Bill) and managed by the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. 

“Awareness and consumption of biodiesel has grown over the past decade, but due to its higher costs, consumption is still lower than traditional diesel fuel,” said Sonny Ramaswamy, NIFA director. “There are many positive environmental, social and human health benefits that consumers can weigh when purchasing diesel fuel. This grant program will help consumers make informed decisions that will help our nation reduce our dependence on foreign oil.”

As directed by the grant, funding will focus on educational programs that will support advances in infrastructure, technology transfer, fuel quality, fuel safety and increasing feedstock production.