Boeing and South African Airways develop sustainable biofuel crops initiative

Boeing is developing its initiative with South African Airways (SAA) and the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) to create further opportunities to help smallhold farmers in southern Africa grow crops that generate sustainable fuels.

The programme's purpose is to aid farmers who own small plots of land, by enabling them to enter into the sustainable biofuels and biomaterials market.

Boeing and RSB are developing pilot programmes with southern African stakeholders to gain knowledge and skills with farmers who want their crops to be sustainable.

'Over the long term, as southern Africa gains capacity in this area, more farmers will be positioned to tap into demand for biofuel feedstocks that are certified to provide socio-economic value to communities without adverse impact to food supplies, fresh water or land use,' Boeing announced in a statement.

Ian Cruickshank, SAA group environmental affairs specialist, explains how the initiative plans to help: 'SAA seeks to drive development of sustainable biofuel supply chains in a way that enhances our region's economic opportunity from local agriculture and energy production'.

'Certifying small farmers is the surest way to ensure sustainable biofuels that not only reduce carbon emissions but also improve the livelihoods of rural communities,' adds Rolf Hogan, executive secretary, Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials.

In October 2013, Boeing and South African Airways teamed up to produce a sustainable aviation biofuel supply chain in southern Africa. This initiative is also supported by Boeing and RSB's efforts to increase biofuel crop opportunities for small farmers in Southeast Asia.