Boeing, South African Airways (SAA) and a company specialising in sustainable aviation fuel are exploring use of a hybrid tobacco to produce a biofuel low in carbon emissions, the companies said.

SkyNRG is test farming a hybrid plant dubbed Solaris which is “effectively nicotine free”, the companies said in a joint statement. Biofuel production is expected to begin in the next few years. Initially, oil from the plant’s seeds will be converted into fuel. Emerging technologies should increase production by enabling use of the rest of the plant, Boeing said.
Boeing and SAA in October, 2013, said they would cooperate in developing a sustainable aviation supply chain in southern Africa. Sustainably produced aviation biofuel reduces carbon emissions 50 to 80 per cent, the companies said. More than 1,500 passenger flights have been powered by biofuel since it was approved in 2011.