Project Solaris has obtained Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) certification for an oil-rich tobacco variety that backers like Boeing hope will become a feedstock for bio jet fuel.

“This milestone marks a very significant step forward in ensuring positive economic, social, and environmental outcomes for aviation and the planet,” said J. Miguel Santos, Boeing International’s managing director for Africa.
Sunchem, an industrial research and development company working with genetic and recombinant DNA, and SkyNRG, a leading supplier of sustainable jet fuel, combined to develop nicotine free and non-GMO Solaris Seed Tobacco, for which Sunchem holds exclusive rights. Solaris is adaptable to different climates, the company said. Boeing is a major sponsor of the project, which also is backed by South African Airways and the government.