By Scout Nelson
The South Dakota Soybean Network reports on the 25X’25 initiative, noting that some renewable fuels goals were reached by the close of 2025, while others remained unmet. The initiative, founded in 2005, set a goal that renewable energy from farms, forests, and ranches would supply 25 percent of total U.S. energy consumption by 2025 while still producing affordable food, feed, and fiber.
“And in many cases, we've reached some of those goals already,” said Ray Gaesser, a farmer from Corning, Iowa.
Speaking on behalf of the Solutions from the Land movement, Gaesser said achieving portions of the 25X’25 goals by 2025 required support from several sectors. This includes wind, solar, corn, and soybeans, all of which contributed to renewable energy growth.
“From a soybean perspective,” said Gaesser, a past president of the American Soybean Association, “it was really about biodiesel and how we helped make policy in Washington, D.C. to encourage renewable energy use and encourage facilities to be built around the nation and in the Midwest in particular that made biodiesel and shared the message of how it benefited not only agriculture, but it benefited everyone around the United States and in our states.”
Although not every 25X’25 target was met, Gaesser said most liquid fuels goals were achieved. Biodiesel played a key role in meeting these objectives.
“There's a lot of liquid fuel use, but in many states, you know, we're having encouragement from our soybean industry to encourage farmers and to [push for] agriculture and construction to use biodiesel in all their engines and share how safe it is, that it works year round in the blending process,” he said. “And it just benefits everyone, including those who consume biodiesel.”
Looking ahead, Gaesser acknowledged uncertainty around U.S. agriculture, trade, and renewable energy policy.
“We need to continue to work and share how renewable energy benefits everyone and how it's really an economic development driver. And that's what it's about,” Gaesser explained. “And when we talk about America First, biodiesel, renewable energy is America First policy.”
Gaesser said the 25X’25 effort continues beyond 2025, with the movement focused on identifying new opportunities to strengthen agriculture and renewable fuels.
“And we all need to think about what are the next steps,” he concluded, “what are the next opportunities to make agriculture better.”
Photo Credit: gettyimages-kn1
Categories: South Dakota, Energy