Tuesday, March 5, 2024
FS, one of Brazil’s leading producers of ethanol and animal nutrition, has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first in the country’s corn ethanol industry to secure the ISCC international certification (International Sustainability & Carbon Certification). This certification validates that FS’s production process aligns with global standards for ethanol and corn oil production, particularly for use in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Additionally, FS holds the distinction of being the world’s inaugural ethanol producer to attain Low LUC Risk certification, achieved through collaboration with one of its second-crop corn suppliers, the GGF Group.
“This certification is an important validation that Brazilian second-crop corn ethanol is a low-carbon feedstock for the production of biofuels on hard to abate sectors , like aviation. Airlines will now be able to count on our ethanol as a competitive and highly scalable source to serve this market globally”, explains FS’ CEO, Rafael Abud.
The attainment of Low LUC Risk certification signifies that FS’s biofuel production, including SAF, is conducted in a manner that prevents the generation of greenhouse gas emissions associated with Indirect Land Use Change (iLUC). This concept refers to the indirect alteration of land use, such as deforestation or conversion of agricultural land, that can result from significant land reallocations to produce biofuel feedstocks. By achieving this certification, FS ensures that its biofuel production contributes positively to carbon emission reduction efforts without causing additional harm to the environment.
The ISCC certification system encompasses a broad spectrum of sustainable feedstocks, including agricultural and forestry biomass, biogenic waste, circular materials, and renewable energy, tailored for diverse markets. Specifically, ISCC CORSIA is a voluntary certification scheme that recognizes the sustainability of aviation fuel based on criteria set forth by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). These criteria evaluate various environmental, social, and traceability factors, from biomass sourcing to biofuel production sustainability.
FS’s certification process for ethanol encompasses every stage, from agricultural cultivation and sourcing of inputs to biofuel production and transportation to SAF manufacturers. Notably, the agricultural production aspect of the certification involved collaboration with one of FS’s suppliers, the Água Santa farm, a division of the GGF Group. This collaborative effort ensures that not only is the carbon footprint of the fuel assessed from its agricultural inception, but also confirms that the Indirect Land Use Change associated with second-crop corn cultivation is negligible. This achievement adds the Low LUC risk attribute to the ISCC CORSIA Certification, marking the first instance of such certification worldwide.
“The certification process is complex. Two years of implementation were necessary, as a number of documentary evidence is required, such as productivity records for more than 10 years and even data on the implementation of improvements in agricultural practices. Scaling a certification like this to hundreds of producers, including small producers, is extremely complex, and requires certification and regulation flexibilization and adjustment for the reality of rural producers”, argues Daniel Lopes, Vice President of Sustainability and New Business for FS. “This certification shows that we already operate in line with the best global agricultural practices, in addition to proving that through the sustainability and traceability of the process we generate an increase in productivity of second-crop corn in the same agricultural area”, complements GGF’s Executive Director, Rogério Ferrarin.
Tags: aviation, biofuel, brazil, Certification, Ethanol, FS, ISCC, Low LUC Risk, SAF, sustainability
Monday, March 4, 2024
