United Airlines Completes First Flight with Renewable Fuel: What Does It Mean for Soybean Growers?

United Airlines successfully completed their first flight using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), a 100% renewable fuel made from oils including cooking, vegetable and soybean oil. This particular flight used sugar and corn instead of soybean oil, though analysts say the jet fuel market could mean big business for a variety of farmers in the coming years. As the Biden administration has tasked the airline industry to reduce fossil fuel usage by 2050, United’s historic flight signals a new era for renewable fuels and low-carbon fuel standards.

All eyes look to soybeans as the potential player in meeting this goal overall, and jet fuel may be the shot in the arm the soybean industry needs to drive biodiesel ahead as a market leader. Transitioning airlines to renewable fuels will require 40 billion pounds of feedstock, a huge increase from the current 12 to 14 billion pounds produced per year.

Read more on agriculture’s role in lowering jet fuel emissions.