Farmers Edge and Gevo partner to advance sustainable aviation fuel production
In a significant move toward sustainable aviation, Farmers Edge Inc., a leader in digital agriculture, has joined forces with Gevo Inc. (NASDAQ: GEVO), renowned for its innovations in renewable fuels. This collaboration marks a pivotal step in Gevo’s Climate-Smart Farm-to-Flight project, supported by a $30M grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) under its Climate-Smart initiative. Launched in 2023, the project is set to revolutionize the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and low-carbon intensity (CI) ethanol through the implementation of climate-smart agricultural practices.
At the heart of this partnership is the shared goal of reducing the carbon footprint of aviation fuel by leveraging climate-smart farming practices to produce low-CI corn. Farmers Edge brings to the table its extensive experience working with Canadian growers on carbon-intensity programs and will now extend its expertise across three states in the United States. The company’s role encompasses recruiting and educating growers, capturing data related to sustainability practices, and calculating field-level CI scores.
Farmers Edge will employ its flagship platform, FarmCommand, alongside its agronomic expertise, to aid growers in the data collection and reporting processes required for the project. This collaboration not only highlights the technological advancements in agriculture but also emphasizes the sector’s crucial role in addressing climate change.
Gevo will utilize the data collected by Farmers Edge through its Verity Tracking platform to monitor the carbon intensity of the feedstocks from cultivation to biofuel production. This integrated approach ensures a seamless transition from farm to fuel, aligning with the broader objective of creating market incentives for sustainable crop production.
The Climate-Smart Farm-to-Flight project spans Council Bluffs, Iowa, Lake Preston, South Dakota, and The Standing Rock Reservation, illustrating the geographical diversity and scalability of the initiative. Amit Pradhan, VP of Strategy at Farmers Edge, and Travis Deppe, Sr. Manager of Strategic Alliances at Gevo, both expressed enthusiasm about the partnership’s potential to fast-track the availability of SAF in the U.S. market.
As grower enrollment for the 2024 season gets underway, the collaboration between Farmers Edge and Gevo stands as a beacon of innovation and sustainability in the agricultural and energy sectors. This project not only aims to reduce the environmental impact of aviation but also sets a precedent for the integration of digital agriculture and renewable energy production.
The partnership between Farmers Edge and Gevo is a groundbreaking initiative that highlights the convergence of agriculture and renewable energy technologies. By focusing on sustainable practices and digital innovation, this project has the potential to make significant strides in reducing the carbon footprint of aviation fuel, setting a new standard for the industry.