34MJ: Commercialising modular biodiesel production for agriculture

Opportunity for

• Commercial partners, investors or infrastructure operators interested in early deployment of decentralised biofuel production systems
• Grower groups, co-operatives or large-scale producers seeking to reduce fuel costs and improve energy resilience
• Industry partners across grains, horticulture or transport looking to trial on-farm or regional biofuel production models
• Research or demonstration partners interested in validating low-energy, containerised biodiesel systems in Australian conditions

Opportunity description

Industry challenge

Agriculture and regional industries remain highly dependent on diesel, with fuel costs representing a major and volatile input. At the same time, there is increasing pressure to decarbonise operations and improve energy resilience, particularly in remote areas where supply chains can be disrupted.

While biofuels present a viable alternative, adoption in Australia has been slow. This is driven by a combination of inconsistent policy, limited supporting infrastructure, perceived technical risks, and uncertainty around commercial models. Existing large-scale biofuel systems are often capital intensive and centralised, making them less accessible for regional communities or individual producers.

There is a clear need for practical, scalable solutions that enable fuel production closer to the point of use, reduce reliance on external supply chains, and deliver tangible economic benefits without requiring major behavioural or operational changes. Distributed, low-cost production models that align with existing farming systems present a significant opportunity to unlock wider adoption of biofuels across Australian agriculture.

Current opportunity

34MJ is seeking partners to support the first commercial deployment of its modular, low-energy biodiesel production system. This includes collaboration with grower groups, co-operatives, commercial operators or regional infrastructure providers interested in establishing an on-farm or community-scale fuel production model.

The opportunity centres on working together to install and operate a turnkey system, using locally available feedstocks such as canola or other oilseed crops, to produce biodiesel for local use. Partners may contribute through hosting a site, supplying feedstock, co-investing in infrastructure, or supporting early-stage validation and demonstration.

A successful partnership would demonstrate the commercial viability of decentralised fuel production, delivering measurable cost savings on fuel, new revenue streams for producers, and increased energy independence. It also provides partners with early access to an innovative system that can be scaled across regions and adapted to different agricultural contexts.

Opportunity background

34MJ has developed a proprietary biodiesel production system designed specifically for on-farm and regional use. Unlike traditional systems, the technology operates without high heat or pressure, allowing it to run on a standard single-phase power supply and significantly reducing energy requirements.

The system is modular and containerised, with key components such as crushing, processing and filtration housed in transportable units. This enables rapid deployment, scalability and flexibility across different operating environments.

The technology has been developed and refined over many years, including trials using various feedstocks such as canola, mustard and safflower. The business has also explored different commercial models, evolving from early community-based concepts to a more flexible approach that supports co-operative, on-farm and commercial deployments.

34MJ is now focused on moving from pilot and validation into its first commercial installations, with a goal of deploying systems within three months of securing a partner.

Potential other applications

While initially focused on agriculture, 34MJ’s modular biofuel system has potential applications across a range of sectors with high diesel reliance. This includes transport and logistics operators, regional councils, mining and construction, and remote or off-grid communities seeking more resilient energy solutions.

The system could also be integrated into circular economy models, using waste oils or lower-grade feedstocks that are currently underutilised or undervalued. For example, processing off-spec oilseed crops or waste streams into usable fuel could create additional value chains while reducing waste.

There is also potential to pair the system with renewable energy sources such as solar, enabling fully or partially off-grid fuel production in remote locations. This opens opportunities for deployment in disaster recovery scenarios, isolated industries, or regions with limited infrastructure.

As global demand for lower-emission fuels grows, decentralised production models like this could play an important role in supporting local supply, reducing transport emissions, and improving overall system resilience.