Brazil's Second-Crop Corn: A Pathway to Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Recent research indicates that Brazil's second-crop corn could significantly contribute to the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), offering a low-carbon solution while minimizing land-use change and greenhouse gas emissions. Conducted by Agroicone in collaboration with international universities, the study highlights the benefits of expanding ethanol production from Brazil's double-cropping system.

This system allows for increased corn production by planting corn after soybeans on the same land, enabling agricultural intensification without expanding cropland. This approach considerably reduces the pressure to convert new land, lowering potential environmental impacts.

The findings suggest that ethanol from second-crop corn might achieve very low or even negative greenhouse gas emissions, driven by factors such as the use of renewable energy in processing and co-products that replace soybean meal in animal feed. However, outcomes depend on Brazil's ability to efficiently expand production and market responses to rising ethanol demand.