Oil palm biodiesel: Brazil's main challenges

•The paper describes the dynamics of the Brazilian Biodiesel Program (PNPB).•The social inclusion is a key objective of the PNPB.•The PNPB has faced difficulties to promote social inclusion.•The social inclusion from PNPB is concentrated in the South of Brazil.•In poorer regions, there are more difficulties to insert small farmers.

The National Program for Production and Use of Biodiesel (PNPB), launched in Brazil, is based on the diversification of its feedstock and social inclusion. Among the various oilseeds, palm was identified as the ideal one for the Northern region. However, the participation of palm is still not representative in the Brazilian biodiesel matrix. The key industrial challenges to promote oil palm in the biodiesel sector (as well as surpass them) are represented in the data presented herein. The current level of production is not enough to meet the industry's needs. The use of this oil appears to be a viable possibility in the medium-term. However technological limitations, infrastructure, transaction costs and high investments are pivotal bottlenecks to promote palm in the biodiesel chain. Concerning social promotion, there are not enough results yet. The prolonged process of economic marginalization, which family farmers have undergone in the Northern region, results in companies having to engage in social activities that aim at deeper cultural changes.