Australia has a large and robust agricultural sector that relies heavily on machinery and equipment requiring regular lubrication.

Traditionally most lubricants used in the agriculture sector have been petroleum-based oils and greases. However, in recent years there has been a push to develop and adopt more sustainable “green” lubricant alternatives derived from renewable plant-based feedstocks rather than fossil fuels. 

Australia now has a steadily growing range of biodegradable and renewable lubricant products targeted towards agricultural applications.

Reasons for developing bio-based agricultural lubricants 

There are several driving factors that have led to interest and investment in biodegradable bio-based lubricant technology tailored for farmers and the agriculture industry. Environmental concerns are a major motivation. Petroleum-based oils can be toxic to ecosystems if released into the soil or waterways. Plant and crop absorption of mineral oil residue can also taint food products. Bio-lubricants made from natural plant oils such as canola, sunflower, soybean and coconut oil instead biodegrade rapidly without environmental impact.

Demand for organic and environmentally friendly agricultural produce has also significantly increased bio-lube usage in farming equipment where contamination from conventional lubricants is an issue. Fortune Business Insights predicts the global plant-based industrial lubricants market to grow at 6% CAGR from 2022 to 2029 as sustainability awareness increases in agriculture and other industry sectors.

Sources and production of bio-based Agri-lubricants 

Sinopec Online noted that Australia has an established agricultural sector well positioned to cultivate plant feedstocks like canola that can then undergo processing and refining to make plant-based lubricants. Diverse raw material sources for biodegradable oils and greases suitable for machinery lubrication include:

• Canola oil – Made from rapeseed, commercial canola crops are grown across western and southern Australia. Cold pressed canola oil can be utilised in lubricant formulations requiring high viscosity and resistance to low temperatures.

• Sunflower oil – Grown across Queensland, NSW, Victoria and South Australia, sunflower oil has good oxidative stability and lubricity properties to function as a base oil.

• Soybean oil – Soy produces a high-quality lubricant base stock due to its natural viscosity, film thickness and friction-reducing characteristics. Australian soybean growing regions are concentrated around the eastern states.

• Coconut oil – Produced from the white flesh and oil pressed from coconut meat, Australian coconut plantations supply oil mainly for food use but can be redirected into bio-lube production.

Other native Australian vegetation oils under investigation for machinery lubricant potential includes eucalyptus, tea tree and macadamia nut oils along with introduced seed oils like palm and olive. Biodegradability, viscosity index, oxidative and temperature stability determine how suitable these base oils are for meeting lubrication performance standards. Refining processes like partial hydrogenation can customize the oil properties.

Environmentally friendly additives can also augment bio-based oils performance as a finished lubricant product tailored for agriculture sector applications. Antioxidants prolong service life; adhesive components improve oil film coating on metal surfaces under friction while anti-wear agents protect the lubricated equipment from damage. Metallic catalysts aid in advanced additive bonding with the natural oil molecules for optimal lubrication effect.

Benefits of bio-based lubrication in agriculture 

Switching to renewable plant-based biodegradable lubricants offers Australian farmers and agricultural enterprises several advantages:

• Improved occupational health and safety – Operators and food producers handle less hazardous products. Skin/eye irritations and the risk of serious health impacts from accidental ingestion or improper handling are reduced for workers.

• Enhanced food security – Eliminating mineral oil contamination of crops, meats, dairy and processed rural produce through bio-based lubricants maintains Australia’s envied food security and export market access.

• Lower maintenance costs – Bio-lubes enhance equipment protection which reduces wear and corrosion damage to chains, bearings, hydraulics and moving/sliding parts that require frequent repair or replacement.

• Increased operational efficiency – Plant-derived lubricants often increase energy efficiency over traditional petroleum oils. This translates into better fuel economy from machinery while maintained optimal functioning lowers downtime.

• Improved public perception – Adoption of sustainable, ecologically sensitive practices including bio-lubrication use builds positive community sentiment and sales for produce marketed as clean and green.

• Regulatory compliance – Shifting to biodegradable and non-toxic lubricants aids compliance with environmental regulations around hydrocarbon containment, waste disposal and land rehabilitation obligations.

Commercially available agriculture bio-lube products 

Australia now hosts a selection greases, oils, sprays and fluids from international suppliers alongside emerging domestic providers that farmers can incorporate to reduce environmental impact:

• United Bio Lube – Australian company producing food-grade oils and lubricants from canola, sunflower, soybean and other base oils. Product range includes gear, hydraulic and motor oils together with open gear greases.

• Complete Agricultural Solutions – Family-owned firm supplying biodegradable lubricants for tractors, harvesters and other farm equipment derived from coconut, palm kernel and other plant oils.

• TotalEnergies EcosynBio – Renewable oil products distributed in Australia, made by French energy giant TotalEnergies, derived from rapeseed vegetable oil and specially engineered for hot, wet and high load machinery applications.

• Shell Naturelle – Biodegradable hydraulic oils, greases and transmission fluids offered by Shell Australia, blended from natural esters for the local rural sector. Tailored to Australian conditions and machinery used in broadacre cropping.

• Global Econatural – Australian division of the Philippines based bio-lubricant company Global SNI specializing in coconut oil derived lubricants but also using soybean and palm kernel oils reinforced with innovative additives.

Future outlook for green lubricants in agriculture Australia’s agricultural industry dependence on oil-based lubricants remains substantial but market appetite for alternatives is growing quickly. With strong federal and state government commitments to reducing national carbon emissions in line with 2050 net zero pledges, adoption of environmentally friendly bio-lubricants will accelerate across rural enterprises. Continued horticulture and crop expansion also demands sustainable practices.

Final Words 

Advances in research by organizations like Australia’s national science agency CSIRO to refine next-generation plant-based lubricants derived from eucalyptus, macadamia, algae and other novel feedstocks offer future promise. Lubricant performance improvements will also broaden bio-based penetration into sensitive high load applications. With Australia’s wealth of plant biodiversity, the country is uniquely placed to pioneer advances in biodegradable lubricants over the coming decade.