Biofuels in Aviation: How SAF Is Creating New Feedstock Demand
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is one of the fastest-growing biofuel markets—and it's creating demand for agricultural feedstocks that could benefit farm operations.
Aviation accounts for about 2% of global CO₂ emissions, and airlines face growing pressure to reduce their carbon footprint. Unlike ground transportation, planes can't easily switch to electric or hydrogen power for long-haul flights. That makes Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) the primary pathway for aviation decarbonization.
SAF can cut lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional jet fuel. This is driving major investment—and creating demand for feedstocks that agricultural operations can potentially supply.
Why Aviation Is Betting on Biofuels
The aviation industry has set a goal to reach net-zero carbon by 2050, with SAF as the primary near-term solution. Airlines see biofuels as:
The best available lever to decarbonize while maintaining current operations
A hedge against oil price volatility and supply disruptions
A way to meet regulatory requirements and carbon mandates
A brand differentiator for environmentally conscious travelers
Airline Commitments Are Growing
Airlines are signing multi-year purchase agreements with SAF producers:
Delta and Southwest: Committed to replacing 10% of jet fuel with SAF by 2030
United Airlines: Leading U.S. adoption with multiple SAF investments
KLM and Lufthansa: Regular SAF use on select routes with long-term supply agreements
Over 360,000 commercial flights have already used SAF blends, and that number is growing rapidly as production scales up.
Feedstocks Driving SAF Production
SAF production uses a range of feedstocks—many of which come from agricultural operations:
Used cooking oil: One of the most common current feedstocks
Animal fats: From meat processing operations
Forestry residues: Wood waste from logging and milling
Crop residues: Corn stover, wheat straw, other agricultural waste
Dedicated energy crops: Camelina, switchgrass, and other non-food crops
Algae: Still developing but high potential
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Policy Is Accelerating Demand
Government mandates are creating guaranteed demand for SAF:
U.S.: Inflation Reduction Act provides tax credits up to $1.75 per gallon for SAF
EU: ReFuelEU mandates 2% SAF by 2025, increasing to 70% by 2050
California: Low Carbon Fuel Standard provides additional incentives
These policies create stable demand signals that encourage investment across the SAF supply chain—including feedstock production.
The Challenge: Cost and Scale
SAF currently costs 2-5 times more than conventional jet fuel. The price premium reflects:
High production costs for conversion technology
Limited refining capacity
Feedstock collection and processing expenses
In 2022, SAF accounted for only about 0.1% of total jet fuel used in the U.S. The Biden administration's SAF Grand Challenge aims to scale production to 3 billion gallons annually by 2030—a dramatic increase from roughly 16 million gallons in 2021.
This scaling creates significant opportunity for feedstock suppliers.
What This Means for Agricultural Operations
The SAF market is creating demand for materials that agricultural operations already produce or could produce:
Crop residues: Corn stover, wheat straw, and other harvest byproducts
Used cooking oil: From processing or food service operations
Animal fats: From livestock processing
Cover crops: Some can serve as energy feedstock after their soil health benefits
Marginal land crops: Camelina and other oilseeds that grow on land not suited for food crops
As SAF production scales, feedstock demand will grow. Operations that understand this market can position to capture value from materials currently treated as waste or low-value byproducts.
The Stack 3 Connection
Aviation biofuels exemplify Stack 3 thinking: finding value in what others discard. The question for your operation is whether SAF feedstock markets could create value from your waste streams—and whether the infrastructure exists to connect you to those markets.
Ready to evaluate your feedstock opportunities?
Aviation biofuel demand is creating new markets for agricultural waste streams—part of Stack 3 in the Five Stacks Framework.
Stack 3 focuses on systematically identifying waste and byproducts that can become revenue. Understanding SAF feedstock demand helps you evaluate whether your crop residues, used oils, or other materials have emerging market value.