Locally Sourced, Sustainably Relevant: Colombia’s Biofuel Strategy for Clean Mobility

FOMF: In 2024, biofuels contributed to an 84% mitigation in CO2 emissions from Colombia’s land transport sector. What key factors enabled this local success, and how do you see the model evolving in the coming years?

Carolina: Our local history is part of the explanation for their current success. Colombia introduced two key laws in 2001 and 2004 to promote the biofuels industry with the aim of decarbonizing mobility, supporting energy security, and improving air quality in rural areas. The industry began to operate in 2005-2008, opening new production sites, increasing crop production, and adapting existing sugar cane plantations.
Our success resulted from early coordination between private producers and distributors and government institutions. This provided a widely accepted policy framework, with robust standards and quality control mechanisms. The direct involvement of Colombia’s President was also a key success factor. We built strong cross-ministerial coordination, with multiple ministries – such as Mines and Energy, Environment, Agriculture and Finance – working together to ensure alignment across sectors. Additionally, with a mandated 10% blend for both biodiesel and bioethanol included in the national regulatory framework for biofuels, we ensured that every Colombian uses biofuels one way or another, embedding them into daily life. 
This stable framework generated significant investment in innovation driven by cost and quality requirements. Feedstocks became competitive and productive, enabling sustainability certification and limiting land expansion. For example, investments in irrigation systems – especially for sugar cane crops – improved water efficiency and reduced environmental impact.

FOMF: Beyond emissions, biofuels offer collateral benefits such as energy security and improved air quality. How are these communicated to policymakers and the public to improve public perception and promote adoption? In addition, how do you ensure that your feedstocks of palm oil and sugar cane – central to Colombia’s biofuels strategy – are sustainably produced?

Carolina: As in many other countries, Colombians are largely unaware that they use biofuels daily and that they contribute to climate action simply by choosing them to fuel their vehicle. To increase awareness, it is important to address myths and disinformation. The positive impact of biofuels on climate change, energy security, and air quality is supported by data and scientific evidence.
One liter of biofuel produced locally replaces one liter of imported fossil fuel, reinforcing national energy independence. Total national biofuel production is equivalent to Colombia’s second-largest oil field. Another positive and lesser-known outcome is that biofuels – which are derived from plant sources avoiding harmful chemical additives – contribute to improved air quality by reducing emissions of fine particulate matter. This is especially relevant in countries where electrification may take time or face geographic constraints. In Colombia, biofuels are responsible for a reduction of 800 tons in particulate matter, in a country where 15,000 people die every year because of poor air quality.

Data shows that palm oil and sugar cane have production surpluses, sufficient for both food and fuel production, with export levels confirming excess capacity. Concerns about land use are addressed through sustainable planning of Colombia’s agricultural expansion, allowing growth without competition. It also creates shared value, with benefits that are not only environmental, but also linked to non-seasonal job creation, especially in rural areas. The level of formal employment and stability is higher than for traditional agricultural sectors. The biofuel sector offers year-round employment with legal protections (~80% of formal employment), compared to only 30-40% in the broader agriculture sector. This production ensures stable work and income for employees because palm oil and sugar cane crops grow continuously throughout the year, unlike seasonal crops such as coffee. Our strategy created over 90,000 jobs in underdeveloped rural areas and actively involved the agricultural sector (especially the sugar cane and palm oil sectors), ensuring local relevance and economic impact. These sectors also comply with robust national and international environmental and social standards, including monitoring of deforestation. Today, 99% of Colombian palm oil is certified as deforestation-free. Other studies identify strong potential for expanding palm oil cultivation on already degraded lands, minimizing risks to biodiversity and water sources.

FOMF: What role do biofuels play in complementing electrification and other clean mobility solutions? Colombia’s biofuel strategy is seen as a model in the Global South. What lessons from your national strategy could be adapted locally by other countries with different agricultural and mobility contexts, and what are the key enablers for regional scaling of biofuels solutions?

Carolina: Colombia’s mountainous landscape and limited rail infrastructure make road transport dominant. Biofuels offer a practical alternative where electrification is less efficient due to battery weight and range limitations, especially for logistics transportation. Biofuels integrate seamlessly into existing national transport infrastructure, requiring minimal adaptation and investment. They benefit from synergies with existing networks for storage, transport, and retail. While not in competition with electrification, biofuels currently account for 84% of emissions reductions in Colombia’s transport sector (through the previously-mentioned 10% mandate), which represents 40-50% of national energy consumption.

To continue its expansion, the sector is working with the government and other regions to advance discussions on other applications, such as maritime biofuels, which have the potential to reduce emissions from national maritime transportation by 40% by 2030, and for sustainable aviation fuel applications that could achieve net-zero by 2050. Colombia actively contributes to international forums like the Climate Week and the COP, reinforcing its leadership in sustainable mobility. We highlight the importance of regional coalitions, promoting biofuels, technological innovation, coordinating regional strategies, and sharing agendas.