Bioinova Project will develop renewable fuels and bio-inputs from agricultural biomass
Five research units from Embrapa (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation) integrate capabilities to develop scientific solutions that expand the contribution of Brazilian agriculture to the decarbonization of the economy. The central challenge is to invest in research, development and innovation actions to transform biomass and agro-industrial waste into energy, renewable fuels and bio-based inputs, with environmental gains and competitiveness.
This institutional network strategy, structured and led by Embrapa Agroenergia, is part of the Bioinova project (Thematic Center for the Development of Integrated Solutions Aimed at the Energy Transition from Agriculture) which has a contribution of R$ 14 million from (Financier of Studies and Projects) to modernize the equipment park and strengthen Embrapa’s infrastructure. The initiative, lasting 36 months, aims to achieve 10 goals aimed at generating technologies for the sustainable production of energy and renewable materials.
According to the head of Research and Development at Embrapa Agroenergia, Bioinova is strategic due to the integration of skills from five units to face real challenges of the energy transition. In addition to the 10 technical goals, the project aims to modernize and expand the Company’s multi-user infrastructure. “With this, we will increase our ability to generate evidence, qualify processes and accelerate the delivery of solutions in routes such as sustainable aviation fuel, biohydrogen, biomethane, ethanol and in technologies associated with the development of raw materials and bioinputs“, it says.
Laviola explains that Bioinova works with an integrated logic of circular economy in tropical biorefineries. The idea is to use waste from the biofuel chain itself to reduce emissions in the production of biomass developed in the project. “These biomasses, in turn, can generate new biofuels and more sustainable bioproducts, seeking to reduce emissions and increase sustainability throughout the chain”, he adds.
The project leader and researcher at Embrapa Agroenergia points out that, to achieve its goals, Bioinova will act on different fronts to expand raw materials and conversion routes and produce bioinputs for nutrition, biostimulation and control of pests of energy interest. To this end, the project will cover areas subject to abiotic stress, drought and salinity and tools for sustainability, intelligence and advanced biotechnology, in addition to the economic viability of all of this.
Network action
Bioinova will mobilize a large part of the technical teams from the five Embrapa units involved. “We are expanding synergies and our potential to deliver solutions for the production sector and society. Bioinova was designed to accelerate integrated and applicable solutions, connecting the field to the technological routes of biofuels and bioproducts. In addition to generating scientific and technological results, the project strengthens the infrastructure necessary to respond to current and future challenges of the energy transition”, ressalta Capdeville.
There are 10 goals focusing on advanced biofuels, bioinputs and sustainability
Among the main fronts in the project, the development of:
- Tropicalized canola to expand sustainable oil supply and support routes to biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel;
- Three bio-inputs from agro-industrial waste, contributing to reduced emissions and greater production efficiency;
- Semi-artificial microbiomes and an agricultural process for sustainable biomass production aimed at bioenergy in marginal areas subject to water and saline stress;
- Compound derived from lignin, from agro-industrial waste, for agricultural use;
- Processes for producing ethanol from starchy raw materials, expanding alternatives and diversification;
- Processes for producing biohydrogen and biomethane via biodigestion, aiming to increase the availability of energy for small and medium-sized properties;
- Process for obtaining hydrocarbons usable as SAF from oils, including canola and macaúba;
- Assessment of environmental and economic sustainability, inventories and modeling to estimate impacts of technologies developed in the project;
- Implementation of a multifunctional platform with integrative biology, artificial intelligence and biotechnologies to accelerate solutions in energy crops and microorganisms aimed at bioinputs;
- Obtaining low-emission biocidal extracts aimed at controlling nematodes in crops associated with bioenergy.
Modernization and gains
In addition to technical deliveries, Bioinova plans to acquire and update strategic equipment to expand experimental and analytical capacity, support conversion routes and increase the robustness of performance and sustainability evidence. The infrastructure will have a multi-user nature, expanding the institutional reach and the capacity to meet the demands of internal projects, partnerships and technical-scientific cooperation.
To make the work viable, Capdeville adds that hiring personnel is also among the project’s plans. “At least 30 other undergraduate and postgraduate professionals and already trained scientists will be among the hires”, he reinforces.
In addition to funding for the maintenance of existing infrastructure, resources will be made available for field research and for the purchase and maintenance of equipment. “We know how important it is to work with guarantees for both acquisition and maintenance throughout the 3-year project. This is a broad project, which focuses not only on Embrapa’s infrastructure, but also on partners”, highlights the researcher.
Laviola endorses that updating infrastructure is decisive to reduce development time, qualify results and accelerate connection with the production sector.
Renewable energy
The expectation is to expand Embrapa’s portfolio of solutions in advanced biofuels, biogas and biomethane, bioinputs and new raw materials, in order to contribute to the decarbonization of agroenergy chains; diversify renewable sources and reduce supply risks; with greater competitiveness and predictability for investments in industrial routes, in addition to technical and scientific support for public policies and sectoral strategies.
“In the end, we hope to deliver a consistent set of processes and technologies, with evidence of performance and sustainability evaluated through modeling of the economic and environmental impacts and life cycle of the technologies generated throughout the project. Such information will allow us to support investment decisions, formulate public policies, improve production chains and expand the role of agriculture in offering renewable and low-carbon energy.”, concludes Capdeville.
This text was originally published by Agência Embrapa on May 20, 2026. The content is free for republication, with the source cited, and was adapted to the Poder360 standard.
