-- The International Air Transport Association said energy crops could add as much as 800 million metric tons of annual sustainable aviation fuel feedstock supply by 2050, the association said in a weekly note on Friday.
IATA said non-food energy crops can grow on degraded or low-quality land, allowing biomass production to expand without triggering major land-use conflicts tied to food cultivation.
The group said energy crops can also improve soil quality, biodiversity and water conditions, while supporting larger biomass availability for sustainable aviation fuel production.
Uncertainty still surrounds long-term feedstock availability, as multiple industries compete for renewable biomass supplies in pursuit of decarbonization goals.
According to IATA, nearly every region can expand energy crop production through feedstocks such as Carinata, Camelina, Macauba and Jatropha to meet rising global renewable fuel demand.
IATA highlighted strong SAF feedstock potential across regions including North America, China and parts of Asia, reflecting broad opportunities for future energy crop expansion.
Limited access to degraded land, competing priorities such as biodiversity conservation and insufficient technology to maximize available acreage could restrict energy crop production potential across regions, IATA said.
IATA said energy crops must satisfy strict sustainability requirements before producers can use them in CORSIA-qualified fuels, while aligned standards across industries could support wider adoption and strengthen renewable aviation fuel supply chains.