1.
Oilseeds to Jet Fuels:
Networks and
Hydrology
Joseph Jakubek- Kansas State University
Cornelia Flora- Kansas State University

2.
Overview
•Project purpose and context
•Theoretical framework
•Findings
•Implications

3.
Project Purpose
• Oilseeds to Jet Fuels
• Canola Biodiesel
• Wheat producing regions of US
• Align interests along the value chain
• Move toward alternative fuel value chains

4.
Context
• Decreasing world-wide demand for petroleum fuels
• Changing, unstable global energy markets
• National energy policies now place more emphasis on
renewable energy
• Concerns related to production, transportation and
consumption of fuel
 Greenhouse gases & air pollution
 Jobs
 Contamination of water and soil

5.
Renewable Energy & Biomass
• New ways to generate energy
• Reduces nonrenewable fossil fuel use
• Based on renewable natural capital
• Potential carbon-neutral fuels

6.
Theoretical Framework
• Community Capitals Framework (Flora, Flora, and
Gasteyer 2016)
• Analyzes the interaction of seven capitals
• Community-level approach to development strategies
• Community Inclusion, Sustainable Ecosystems, and
Economic Growth.

7.
Methods
• Five focus groups
 Wellington, Kansas; Minot and Mandan, North Dakota; Enid,
Oklahoma; Kennewick, Washington
• Semi-structured interviews with actors and organizations
along the value chain.
 Farmers, Processors, Transporters, Plant Breeders, Extension
Professionals, and Farm Service Suppliers.
• Analyze implications of implementing oilseed to jet fuel
value chains in wheat producing regions and its impacts
on stores and investment of community capitals on the
growth and success of alternative fuel value chains.

8.
Findings –Soil and Water
• Canola biofuel value chains strongly impact all capitals.
• Natural Capital
• Cultural Capital and Sustainability
• Social Capital and Networks
• Human Capital and Appreciative Inquiry

9.
Natural Capital
• Landscape, Soil quality and health, water
abundance, biodiversity
• Canola Biodiesel:
 Climate/weather – wheat systems shifting to corn-soybean systems
 Oil quality
 Erucic acid content
 Harvest/standability
 Timing of harvest
 Rotation advantages
 No till methods

10.
Canola as a Soil Conditioner
• Increases yields of wheat, corn, soybeans when included in
rotation
• Adds nitrogen to soil, reduces input necessity
• Drought tolerant root system
 Low water fields
 Areas of fields with less water
• Pest management
• Increases biodiversity

11.
Cultural Capital and Sustainability
• Narratives surrounding renewable fuels
• Sustainable producers identify as
 Independent
 Innovative
 Risk takers
• Value complexity in their reasoning and motivations
• Concern for soil quality and health

12.
Social Capital and Networks
• Extension and planning services
 Contact with trusted persons with authority and knowledge
 Environmental and economic benefits
• Communities of Place and Interest
 Existing canola grower organizations
 No Till and Direct Seeding organizations
 Environmental organizations
• Trust in the players in the supply chain
 Community linkages important
 Common goals: social, environmental, and economic

13.
Human Capital and Appreciative Inquiry
• Education, Skills, Talents, and Abilities
• Farmers’ preferred methods of gaining information
 Field days
 Seminars
 Face-to-face
 Community education events
 Internet
 Extension
• Knowledge of
 Fields and what works best
 Market alternatives
 Production alternatives
 Trustworthy sources of information
• Willingness to change in light of new opportunities provided by
 New markets
 New production systems
 New climate conditions
 New technology availability

14.
Motivations of Value Chain
Participants
• Multiple motivations are salient at different levels of value chain
• Environmental motivations are prevalent
 Sustainability
 Renewable Fuels
 Water Usage
• Networks are what impact environmental and ecological concerns
 Speaks to new framings of relationships between humans and ecosystem
 Community Capitals and decision-making processes
 Holistic change in agricultural value chains

15.
• Thank You