Corteva and bp have started a new joint venture called Etlas, which will produce oil from crops like canola, mustard, and sunflower. This oil will be used to make biofuels, such as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel (RD). Corteva brings its long experience in seed technology to grow the right crops for biofuel production, while bp contributes its expertise in refining and selling fuel.
Etlas aims to produce one million metric tonnes of biofuel feedstock every year by the mid-2030s, which could create over 800,000 tonnes of biofuels. The first supply will start in 2027, and it will be used in refineries and biofuel plants.
The demand for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel (RD) is expected to grow significantly. By 2030, the demand for SAF could reach 10 million tonnes, and the demand for RD could rise to 35 million tonnes. Etlas plans to meet this growing demand by providing a steady supply of feedstock.
The crops utilized to produce the feedstock will be grown on existing cropland, during times when it is not being used for main food crops. This helps improve soil health and gives farmers a new source of income without needing extra land.
According to coherent market insights, the Biofuels Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.2% during 2025 to 2032. Currently, the market is at USD 268.57 Bn in 2025 and is expected to be around USD 497.29 Bn by 2032. The market is driven by several factors, including the increasing demand for renewable energy sources, government regulations and incentives promoting the use of biofuels, and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Biofuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel, are derived from renewable biomass sources such as corn, sugarcane, soybeans, and vegetable oils.
Judd O’Connor, executive vice president of Corteva’s seed business unit added: “By helping found Etlas, Corteva continues to deliver on two critical parts of our mission: to help fuel the world and to support farmers. Agriculture is part of the solution, and we are excited to see Etlas come to life.”
Philipp Schoelzel, senior vice president, biofuels growth, bp added: “This capital light joint venture creates optionality in our biofuels value chain, strengthening our position and helping deliver attractive returns. We’re excited to collaborate with Corteva to deliver what our customers want.”
“As the aviation industry looks for reliable, sustainable and cost-competitive sources of SAF, it is clear farmers have a critical role to play,” said Etlas CEO, Ignacio Conti. “Etlas brings together global leaders in agriculture innovation and energy production to harness this demand by leveraging technological expertise and trusted relationships with farmers around the world to help scale production and boost supply while offering farmers new revenue streams.”
Source:
Newsroom: Corteva
Company: Corteva