DigiFarm at the Biofuels International Conference: Key Insights from Brussels

One of the dominant themes across sessions was the rapidly evolving regulatory landscape. Frameworks such as RED III and LowILUC are becoming more demanding, particularly for crop-based feedstocks, as the EU tightens sustainability and traceability requirements. For technology providers, this shift is creating strong demand for reliable, data-driven compliance solutions – especially those that can operate at scale.

A major topic of concern was certification integrity. Industry participants openly acknowledged the growing risks of fraud in waste-based feedstock supply chains, highlighting the limitations of traditional audit systems. The transition toward more robust, independent verification methods – particularly satellite-based monitoring – was widely recognized as a necessary next step for ensuring transparency and trust.

Another key focus was the rising importance of intermediate and cover crops such as camelina, carinata, and faba bean. These crops offer strong LowILUC potential because they are grown between main crop cycles, minimizing additional land use impact. However, their certification depends on clear, verifiable evidence of crop rotation and land use history – an area where geospatial technologies are becoming essential.

A particularly promising development discussed during the event was the dual-certification potential of intermediate crops. From a single field, producers can generate both biofuel feedstock (certifiable under LowILUC frameworks) and protein-rich animal feed (aligned with ISCC Plus standards). This creates a new opportunity to maximize value per hectare – provided that consistent, field-level data supports both certification pathways.

For DigiFarm, the conference reinforced a clear direction: the market is actively seeking scalable, evidence-based solutions to meet rising regulatory and commercial demands. Satellite-driven insights, historical land use analysis, and automated monitoring are no longer optional – they are becoming foundational to the next generation of compliant biofuel supply chains.

We left Brussels with a strong pipeline of opportunities and a sharpened focus on delivering the tools that enable transparency, efficiency, and trust across the industry.