Indianapolis, Ind. – Corteva Inc. (NYSE: CTVA) has announced a strategic collaboration with bp (NYSE: BP, LSE: BP.L) to develop a joint venture (JV) focused on crop-based biofuel feedstocks. The partnership is positioned to address the aviation industry’s increasing demand for low-carbon fuels driven by global mandates and incentives to decarbonize.
The initiative aims to deliver one million metric tons of biofuel feedstocks annually by the mid-2030s, significantly supporting the production of aviation fuels compliant with EU and US sustainability standards. According to the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive III (RED III), a 20% mandate for sustainable fuel in aviation starts in 2025, increasing to 70% by 2050.
Under the JV, Corteva will leverage its proprietary mustard seed, sunflower, and canola varieties optimized for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production. The company plans to collaborate with farmers in North and South America and Europe to introduce these crops into existing agricultural systems. The goal is to enhance compliance with EU RED III criteria and US low-carbon intensity incentives while unlocking new income streams for farmers.
“This partnership is proof positive that agriculture can continue to be part of the solution to the world’s decarbonization opportunities, including by leveraging Corteva’s technology, global scale, and unique grower relationships. We are excited at the prospect of partnering with bp to help the European airline industry become more sustainable while giving farmers a new source of income,” said Corteva Chief Strategy Officer Brook Cunningham.
“This partnership is proof positive that agriculture can continue to be part of the solution to the world’s decarbonization opportunities.” – Brook Cunningham, Chief Strategy Officer, Corteva
Scaling to Meet Market Demand
The memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Corteva and bp reflects the urgency to ramp up biofuel production for SAF. Emma Delaney, executive vice president of customers & products at bp, highlighted the synergistic potential:
“We see great potential in a partnership with Corteva – together, we are well positioned to deliver value through leveraging Corteva’s technology and grower relationships and bp’s refining and trading capabilities.”
The JV aims to establish new cropping systems and infrastructure by 2025, targeting full operational capacity later that year.
Industry and Farmer Implications
This collaboration showcases a growing trend of cross-industry partnerships to address aviation’s decarbonization challenges. For farmers, the initiative represents a pivotal opportunity to diversify income through sustainable crop systems tailored for biofuel markets.
The joint venture also signals the expanding role of agriculture in energy transitions. By introducing proprietary crops designed for low-carbon intensity biofuels, Corteva and bp are laying the groundwork for scalable solutions to support global decarbonization efforts.
