TagSAF(52)

The Farm to Fly Act is a proposed piece of U.S. legislation aimed at promoting Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) by expanding their eligibility within USDA bioenergy programs, encouraging federal agency collaboration, and establishing a standardized definition of SAF. The bill seeks to create new markets for American farmers by connecting agricultural crops and biomass to aviation fuel production, while also boosting rural economic development and domestic energy security. It is backed by a broad coalition of agricultural organizations, renewable fuel producers, and major U.S. airlines.

In April 2024, a broad coalition of aviation, agriculture, and biofuel organizations wrote to House and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders urging them to include sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) provisions in the Farm Bill. The letter specifically supports the Farm to Fly Act, which would expand USDA energy programs to recognize SAF feedstocks from American farms, promote collaboration between agriculture and aviation sectors, and establish a common emissions measurement standard. The signatories argue this would benefit U.S. farmers, rural economies, and the aviation industry's goal of producing 3 billion gallons of SAF by 2030.

Virgin Atlantic completed the first transatlantic commercial flight powered entirely by Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), made primarily from used cooking oil, flying from London Heathrow to New York JFK. While supporters say SAF can cut emissions by over 90% compared to conventional jet fuel and works with existing aircraft, critics argue it is a greenwashing effort due to limited fuel supply and potential land-use conflicts. SAF currently makes up less than 1% of global jet fuel and costs roughly three times more than conventional fuel, leaving its large-scale viability uncertain.