Broader contextCrude fats and oils extracted from animal or vegetable sources (containing mainly triglycerides) are currently among the most important and used raw biomaterials converted into biofuels. Although this transformation can be accomplished using relatively simple chemical reactions—thermocatalytic cracking to produce diesel-like and (trans)esterification of triglycerides to yield biodiesel, they have several drawbacks mainly related to energy and water consumption. Therefore the development of more efficient catalytic processes for these transformations is one of the key factors that inhibits the definitive implementation of such fuels globally. In this article we highlight the most recent catalytic approaches used for the alcoholysis of triglycerides and the thermolysis of crude vegetable oils.