Biodiesel and HVO: How Renewable Fuel Drives Agribusiness and Creates Opportunities

The biodiesel and HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) are the renewable fuels that drive the Brazilian agribusiness — with the RENOVABIO mandate requiring an increasing content of biofuel in mineral diesel (B12 in 2024, B14 in 2025, B20 in 2030) and creating a permanent high-volume demand for oilseeds such as soy, palm oil, beef tallow, and animal fat.

HVO — renewable diesel produced by hydrogenation of vegetable oils — is the highest quality and fastest-growing biofuel worldwide, compatible with diesel engines without modification. Brazil has the capacity to become the largest producer of HVO in the world with available oilseeds — and there are already HVO plant projects under construction in the country.

When biodiesel and HVO are produced from sustainable oilseeds with traceability, this segment can contribute significantly to job and income generation in Brazil.

Join our strategic actions for implementing the best solutions in the Brazilian agribusiness sector. Our activities, studies, and advanced research cover 20 chains and the 255 segments of the national agro — from the grain chain to sustainable extraction, passing through horticulture, fruit growing, livestock, and much more.

The Innovation for Brazil to Produce More series was developed precisely to identify and implement the best solutions available in Brazil and globally, across the 255 segments of the agribusiness sector — with accessible technical language, updated data, and a focus on practical results for producers, suppliers, governments, and traders.

1.  Opportunities for Small Rural Producers

How the biodiesel and HVO market creates opportunity for the entire oilseed chain

Soy biodiesel represents over 70% of the volume produced in Brazil — but soy is facing increasing sustainability pressure. Alternative oilseeds such as palm oil, castor beans, macaúba, and beef tallow perform better environmentally and have increasing prices for raw materials in the biofuel market.

✔    B14 mandate and increasing to B20 — permanent high-volume demand

✔    CBIO (biofuel credit) — decarbonization certificate with market value

✔    HVO: high-quality renewable diesel compatible with modern engines

✔    Beef tallow: lower-cost raw material for biodiesel and HVO

✔    ANP and MAPA: regulation and certification of biodiesel and HVO

The E-Book 01 — Strategic Manual for Small Rural Producers presents, in detail, the best solutions for this segment and the other 254 of Brazilian agribusiness — focusing on method, cost reduction, and progressive growth from Agro 1.0 to Agro 6.0. Access now for BRL 99.00 →

2.  Opportunities for Micro and Small Local Suppliers

What equipment and services biodiesel and HVO demand

Biodiesel demands transesterification plants and HVO plants — with growing demand for mini-plants for cooperative consumption and industrial HVO plants.

Solutions by area of engineering applied to the segment

Our activities, studies, and advanced research cover six major areas of engineering — and the chain demands solutions in all of them:

Electrical Engineering and Computing — automation of biodiesel and HVO plants;

Electronic Engineering and IoT — ANP quality sensors for biodiesel;

Control and Automation Engineering — transesterification and hydrogenation reactors;

Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering — biodiesel purifiers and glycerin separators;

Renewable Energy Engineering — biodiesel + solar integration for farms;

Data Science and Artificial Intelligence — CBIO management; traceability of sustainable raw materials.

✔    Biodiesel reactors for cooperative mini-plants

✔    Industrial HVO plants

✔    CBIO emission and management systems

✔    ANP certification for biodiesel

✔    Consulting for HVO projects

The E-Book 02 — Strategic Guide for the Micro and Small Local Supplier maps, segment by segment, the business opportunities — focusing on IoT, energy, automation, and specialized technical services. Access now for BRL 99.00 →

3.  Opportunities for Municipal Governments

How the municipality can support biodiesel and create energy autonomy

Local biodiesel for self-consumption is the greatest opportunity for rural energy autonomy — and the municipality that supports cooperatives with mini-plants reduces dependence on fossil fuel and creates income for oilseed producers.

✔    Cooperative biodiesel mini-plant for municipal and rural fleet

✔    Municipal IDM: percentage of the fleet fueled with local biodiesel

✔    Oilseed program for biodiesel with guaranteed purchase

✔    Municipal CBIOs — decarbonization certification

✔    Partnership with Petrobras Biocombustíveis for regional contracts

The E-Book 03 — Reference Guide for Municipal Governments presents the step-by-step for secretaries and municipal managers to implement effective public policies for the 255 agro segments. Access now for BRL 99.00 →

4.  Opportunities for Small Agricultural Product Retailers

How biodiesel and HVO create business for oilseed producers and suppliers

The HVO (renewable diesel) will create the largest oilseed market in history — projecting 10 to 50 billion liters/year in Brazil by 2035. The producer of palm oil, castor beans, macaúba, or beef tallow who guarantees supply with sustainable traceability will have high-volume contracts and guaranteed prices for decades.

For agricultural input distributors, the CBIO (biofuel credit) creates a new complementary income source for the entire agricultural chain — the soy producer who sells to biodiesel receives the CBIO as a decarbonization bonus with increasing market value.

Products with high commercial potential

The main products derived from this segment for local retail and foodservice:

Certified ANP biodiesel — increasing mandate to B20;

HVO (renewable diesel) — market of 10 to 50 billion L/year;

CBIO per biofuel — growing decarbonization asset;

Biodiesel glycerin — high-value co-product;

Beef tallow for HVO — lower-cost raw material;

Consulting for HVO projects — high-growth service.

Profiles of merchants and their specific opportunities

✔    Biodiesel plants: diversified raw material and CBIO

✔    HVO projects: renewable diesel for aviation and transport companies

✔    Oilseed producers: long-term contracts for HVO

✔    CBIO distributors: growing decarbonization market

✔    Renewable energy consultants: HVO projects

✔    Meatpackers: beef tallow for HVO

Growth strategies for the local merchant

The beef tallow producer who certifies the sustainable origin for HVO has access to prices 20 to 40% higher than conventional tallow — as HVO plants pay a premium for tallow with environmental traceability to comply with European renewable fuel directive requirements.

The BNDES Green Fund and Petrobras Biocombustíveis finance plants. The Pronampe covers cooperative mini-plants. The BNB/FNE supports in the Northeast.

The E-Book 04 — Strategic Guide for the Small Agricultural Product Merchant maps 30 merchant profiles and details growth opportunities across all 255 segments of agribusiness. Access now for BRL 99.00 →

Innovation and Technology Network

By acquiring any e-book from the series, you become a member of our Innovation and Technology Network. Groups with 30 members will be able to organize and fund in-person strategic planning events to identify and implement the best solutions available in Brazil and globally.

✔    Small Rural Producers

✔    Micro and Small Supplier Companies

✔    Municipal Governments

✔    Small Agricultural Product Retailers

⭐  Special offer: I will provide 100% discount on the value of my working hours for the 10 pioneer events organized by 11/30/26 and held in December 2026. Therefore, the 10 pioneer groups will only cover the general expenses.

Sincerely,

Ivo Alves

CEO · Master in Electrical Engineering and Computing · Specialist in Innovation and Technology Project Management

Faculty: IFPB and UFRN  ·  38 years of experience in Engineering