It’s been almost 30 years since the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council became the first group to invest checkoff dollars into biodiesel research. Today, the state is a national leader, ranking fourth in biodiesel production capacity and second in overall production.
Biodiesel provides a 15% price support for commodity soybeans. A 2015 University of Missouri report shows the value of soybean oil increases about $75 per acre when it is processed into biodiesel. Missouri is home to eight biodiesel plants that produce about 200 million gallons of the renewable fuel per year. This fuel is not only used to power vehicles, but also heat homes and businesses.
This year, the new Center for Soy Innovation in Jefferson City, Mo., will put biodiesel to work by heating a portion of the building using a biofuel oil furnace. Missouri Soybean Association CEO Gary Wheeler takes us inside the center for a peek at the utility room to explain the process.
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