Qantas is set to operate the world's first bio-fuel flight between the US and Australia. The collaboration with World Fuel Services and Altair Fuels will see the new Qantas Dreamliner fly from LA to Melbourne next year powered by Brassica Carinata an industrial type mustard seed.
The airline is also working with Agrisoma Biosciences, the Canadian based company who developed the seed, and Australian farmers, to develop Australia’s first commercial bio-fuel crop by 2020. Growing 400,000 hectares of the seed which will yield 200 million litres of bio-jet fuel each year to power their fleet.
The carinata crop requires no specialised production or processing, is water efficient and test crops have already been trialled in South Australia and Queensland, growing well in both climates.
The project will dramatically reduce the carbon emissions for Qantas aircraft as well as offer Australian farmers an alternative source of income.