Biofutures

Vision

Our vision is for Queensland to be an Asia-Pacific hub in biomanufacturing and biorefining, enabling global efforts to decarbonise and build diverse local industrial capabilities.

Recent achievements

• Supported Liquid Power and Wagner Sustainable Fuels to undertake studies to develop the case for investment in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) proposals.
• Supported, through the Industry Partnership Program, the establishment of Energreen’s multi-seed crushing and processing facility at Yamala in the Central Queensland Inland Port at Emerald.
• Commissioned Deloitte to review SAF international policy settings that have supported development of commercial scale SAF value chains.
• Signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Qantas to collaborate on developing a SAF industry in Queensland
• Supported Jet Zero in assessing feasibility of a planned biorefinery in the Townsville State Development Area which could produce up to 100 million litres of SAF each year
• Signed a MoU with Ampol and ENEOS to investigate feedstock and using existing refinery infrastructure to generate up to 500 million litres of SAF and renewable diesel a year at Ampol’s Lytton site
• Supported the first Airbus helicopter trial with SAF
• Held an Industry Roundtable to bring together key supply chain participants including feedstock providers, technology developers, aviation, airports and refiners to launch a pathway for Queensland to capitalise on the global shift to green jet fuels
• Mercurius successfully completed its pilot at the QUT Biocommodities Facility in Mackay using its patented REACH^TM technology to produce chemicals, diesel and SAF from sugarcane waste.
• Delivered on a commitment to develop the business case for a Future Foods BioHub in Mackay by partnering with Cauldron Molecules to investigate the feasibility of a large-scale precision fermentation manufacturing facility in the region
• Supported the first 100% renewable diesel trial in Queensland at the new venue in the Queensland Performing Arts Centre
• Partnered with shipping company ANL on the first biofuel trial on a containerised shipping vessel in Oceania
• 2 bioethanol-fuelled buses launched in Mackay in collaboration with Scania and Mackay Transit Coaches
• Supported key industry events like:
  • Ausbiotech 2023
  • Global Bioeconomy Alliance 2023
  • Australian Renewable Fuels Week 2023
  • Bioenergy Australia’s 2022 conference
  • Biofuturing Australia
  • Life Science Queensland’s 2021 Bioeconomy Forum: Supercharging Queensland’s Bioeconomy.

What are Biofutures

Biofutures refers to the bioenergy and biomanufacturing industries. The biofutures sector focuses on the development and manufacturing of innovative products from sustainable resources.

Roadmap and Action Plan

The Queensland Biofutures 10-Year Roadmap and Action Plan (June 2022) ( 2.8 MB) was launched in June 2022, updating Queensland’s vision for the sector as well as providing industry insights and achievements and building on the original version released in 2016.

Sustainable aviation fuel

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) can be used as a replacement fuel in existing aircraft engines and airport refuelling infrastructure to cut carbon emissions by up to 80 percent. It is almost chemically identical to traditional jet fuel however, where conventional fuel is fossil-based, SAF is generated from feedstocks that absorb carbon dioxide, providing a net reduction in emissions.

Airlines worldwide are publicly committing to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 and SAF is one of the strongest tools available to airlines to reduce their emissions.

Future Foods

Future Foods applies innovative biotechnology to create, manufacture and export appealing new food products and ingredients that are nutritious and sustainable.

CSIRO’s Protein and Synthetic Biology Roadmaps recognise the opportunity for Future Foods to meet global demand and improve food security.

Strategic Biofutures Advisor

Mr Chris Tindal was appointed as Queensland’s inaugural Strategic Biofutures Advisor in July 2018. He provides a direct connection between the Queensland Government and key global and domestic stakeholders with a view to helping cement business relationships and projects for Queensland.

Biofutures Industry Envoy

Professor Ian O'Hara was appointed as Queensland's inaugural Biofutures Industry Envoy in December 2016, spearheading the industry's drive into the Asia-Pacific.

Industry Partnership Program

Invests $415.5 million over four years to create opportunities for business, industry and research institute to work together to grow a number of priority sectors like Biofutures and its supply chains.

Queensland biofuels mandates

The Queensland biofuel mandates are a step towards growing our biofuels and wider industrial biotech and bioproducts industry. The mandates will provide certainty so the industry can invest, innovate and create jobs as part of a cleaner, greener future for Queensland. A flourishing biofuels industry will also create the foundation for a new high value biomanufacturing industry.

Check if your vehicle is E10 compatible and learn more about the Queensland biofuel mandates.

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