Seeds that Power Flight
Energy leader bp and agricultural pioneer Corteva have joined forces in a fifty fifty venture named Etlas. The company will develop oil rich sunflower mustard and canola varieties purpose built for sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel. By pairing Cortevas seed science with bps global fuel marketing network, Etlas expects to start delivering feedstock in 2027 and reach one million tonnes annually by the mid 2030s. That volume could translate into more than eight hundred thousand tonnes of finished low carbon fuel for aircraft trucks and ships.
Benefits for Farmers and Soil
Because the oilseed crops grow between main food seasons, they need no extra land. The practice is called relay or cover cropping. It keeps roots in the ground year round, preventing erosion, holding nutrients and improving soil structure. Farmers gain a second harvest without reducing their primary food output, creating a straightforward way to diversify income while enhancing long term field fertility.
A Clear Route to Scale
Global demand for sustainable aviation fuel may jump tenfold by 2030 and renewable diesel demand is on a similar trajectory. Etlas provides certainty to airlines refiners and regulators that abundant non food feedstock can arrive on schedule. The venture is capital light for bp, since it leverages existing agricultural infrastructure rather than building new refineries from scratch.
A Quiet Competitive Advantage
One subtle strength is data. Corteva already collects detailed agronomic information from millions of hectares. Integrating that data with bps supply chain analytics can optimise regional planting schedules
against refinery capacity and shipping lanes, minimising logistical emissions before the crop is even harvested.
Conclusion
Etlas demonstrates how collaboration across energy and agriculture can unlock new climate solutions while rewarding growers. By using idle seasons to cultivate purpose bred oilseeds, the partnership turns time itself into an asset, helping aviation meet ambitious carbon goals without competing with dinner plates.