The U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing up to $2.8 billion in 70 selected projects under the first wave of the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities funding opportunity, with more projects to be announced later this year. More than 450 proposals were submitted for the funding opportunity and the strength of the projects identified led USDA to increase its investment from the initial $1 billion to more than $3 billion.

Among the proposals approved this round that benefit the biofuels sector is $30 million for the GEVO Climate-Smart Farm-to-Flight Program. The project aims to create critical structural climate-smart market incentives for low carbon-intensity corn as well as to accelerate the production of sustainable aviation fuel, which includes an immediate market opportunity to sell climate-smart, low-climate-impact corn.

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack discussed the announcement with reporters Tuesday afternoon and made the official announcement Wednesday morning.
Vilsack Climate Smart Partnership press call 32:26

Vilsack Climate Smart Partnership announcement 12:50