By Jamie Martin
Corteva and bp have introduced Etlas, a new joint venture designed to support the production of clean fuels through agriculture. Etlas will grow oilseed crops such as canola, mustard, and sunflower to create feedstock used in making sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel.
This partnership combines Corteva’s long history in seed development with bp’s global fuel marketing and refining expertise. Together, they aim to build a reliable and scalable supply chain for biofuel feedstock.
Etlas plans to reach annual production of one million metric tonnes of feedstock by the mid-2030s. This production could support more than 800,000 tonnes of biofuel each year. Initial deliveries are expected to begin in 2027 for use in biofuel refineries.
“By helping found Etlas, Corteva continues to deliver on two critical parts of our mission: to help fuel the world and to support farmers. Agriculture is part of the solution, and we are excited to see Etlas come to life,” said Judd O’Connor, executive vice president of Corteva’s seed business.
Demand for clean fuels is rising worldwide as governments and industries look for ways to reduce emissions. Global demand for sustainable aviation fuel could reach 10 million tonnes by 2030, while renewable diesel demand may grow to 35 million tonnes. Etlas is being developed to help meet this demand.
The crops grown by Etlas will be planted on existing farmland between main crop seasons. These crops help improve soil quality and allow farmers to earn additional income without expanding farmland use.
Ignacio Conti will serve as Etlas Chief Executive Officer, while Gaurav Sonar will act as Chair of the Board. The company will work with farmers to expand production and strengthen the clean energy supply chain.
“As the aviation industry looks for reliable, sustainable and cost-competitive sources of SAF, it is clear farmers have a critical role to play,” said Etlas CEO, Ignacio Conti. “Etlas brings together global leaders in agriculture innovation and energy production to harness this demand by leveraging technological expertise and trusted relationships with farmers around the world to help scale production and boost supply while offering farmers new revenue streams.”
Photo Credit: gettyimages-eugenesergeev
Categories: National