Yesterday, Unilever and Nufarm, a global leader in agricultural innovation, have announced a strategic partnership to develop and commercialize a groundbreaking “crop of the future.” This initiative aims to cultivate high-biomass crops, such as energy cane and sorghum, to produce sustainable oils derived from the entire plant, including leaves and stems, rather than just seeds or fruits.
According to Unilever, these “biomass oils” will serve as a key source of fatty acids, a vital ingredient in Unilever’s laundry detergents and beauty and personal care products. It is reported that fatty acids are widely used as raw materials in cosmetics, commonly serving as moisturizers and emulsifiers in cosmetic products.
The partnership builds on Nufarm’s expertise with energy cane, a sustainable crop that generates significantly more biomass and sugar than traditional sugarcane. Backed by Unilever’s multi-million Euro investment, the project will leverage recent advancements in biotechnology to optimize energy cane for biomass oil production. Once scaled, this innovation could help Unilever reduce its reliance on petrochemical-based ingredients and align with its goal to achieve net-zero emissions across its value chain by 2039.
Neil Parry, Unilever’s Head of Biotechnology, highlighted the potential of biotechnology to unlock nature’s power and diversify the supply chain sustainably. Greg Hunt, CEO of Nufarm, emphasized the transformative impact of this initiative on agriculture, showcasing how high-biomass crops can support sustainability while creating scalable solutions.
Beyond its primary purpose, the new crop holds promise for multiple uses. Alongside biomass oil, it will continue producing sugar for biotechnology processes like creating fragrances, enzymes, and cleaning agents. The remaining plant fibers could be repurposed for packaging materials or renewable energy, ensuring no part of the crop goes to waste.
