Passengers aboard a United Airlines flight heading to Zurich from San Francisco. Aiming to clean up the skies, a biofuel created by a Quebec company will be propelled in part.
The company Agrisoma Biosciences Inc. is the firm behind the biofuel manufacturer company. Carinata Mustard is the key source behind it. The company founder and President Steve Fabijanski believe it could help dramatically decarbonize the aviation industry.
“For me, this is a very good example of Canadian innovation. Especially, innovation from Quebec. These are innovations in terms of looking at green solutions,” he said in an interview from Paris with The Canadian Press.
The biofuel will be replacing 30% of the jet fuel used in Boeing. This will be leading the company to proclaim the plane. It will emit 30 percent fewer greenhouse gases than a regular flight.
Ever used in a plane to date, i.e. the greenest biofuel. This is what Fabisjanski believes about his company’s product. Also, partnering with United Airlines will serve as a showcase for attracting new projects.
With a flight time of 11 hours, the California-to-Switzerland flight will be the longest transatlantic trip to date. Used for the second time shall be the mustard-based product from Agrisoma’s. A commercial flight shall be the one where it will be used. Also involving the usage of biofuels more comprehensively.
Used between Australia and The United States in the Aussie airline known as Transpacific Qantas Airways. The flight was 15 hours and operated last Jan 28th. In that instance, biofuel replaced 10 percent of jet fuel.
Currently, the technical and regulatory rules limit to 50 percent. Used in a commercial flight by the quantity we are talking about 50% of the amount of biofuel.
“Fifty percent is the goal (for the company). You are definitely making a significant impact in terms of the greenhouse gas emissions, i.e. at 50 percent.”Said Fabijanski
As the number of air passengers has steadily grown. The aviation industry has set a goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 50 percent compared to 2005 levels. The industry is responsible for two to three percent of global emissions.
Steven Guilbeault, an environmental activist and co-founder of Equiterre, says Agrisoma’s biofuel paves the way for air carriers to take a significant step in reducing their carbon footprint.
“As an ecologist, what matters to me is that this type of technology is spreading and, as a Quebecer, I won’t hide the fact it makes me proud that it was developed in our backyard,” he said.
The head of Cycle Capital Management, one of Agrisoma’s principal investors, didn’t hesitate to promote the virtues of biofuel.
“If we put just 10 percent of this fuel in all the planes around the world, we would accomplish great things,” said Andree-Lise Methot, the founder of the clean-tech venture capital fund manager.
Growing on the land not meant to feed people, Carinata Mustard can grow on such land. According to Methot, this is one of the main qualities, i.e. on top of the aviation industry. Not at the expense of food, for example, the cultivation shall take place. This is unlike ethanol
Something that can be used as a feed for the livestock, the residue transforms into a protein-rich byproduct. Hence, this is done once the extraction of oil is made from the plant.
“Known as a seed adapted to climate change and grows in difficult conditions. The Carinata grows when nothing does. Biofuel and Organic food for animals are the two beautiful products that it yields” She Said.