Carinata: the plant that becomes jet fuel is cultivated in Mato Grosso do Sul
Carinata, a plant of African origin, has gained ground in the fields of Mato Grosso do Sul as a promising option for the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
In 2025, about 12,000 hectares of the plant were cultivated in the state, resulting in a total production of 9,000 tons.
In the region, approximately 43 farmers invested in this crop, including Jonis Assmann, who planted 700 hectares, 267 of them in São Gabriel do Oeste, in the north-central part of the state.
“The main goal was income, and that’s what got me interested, after being invited by the company promoting it here in Mato Grosso do Sul and throughout Brazil,” said the farmer, who first learned about the crop in Argentina and visited a research center developing more than a thousand hybrids.
Carinata stalks can reach up to two meters in height, and the grain is smaller than soybean. The flowering period lasts between 15 and 20 days and precedes the formation of the seeds, which are enclosed in pods. Because of their small size, harvesters must be adapted.
“It’s a smaller grain than what we’re used to working with, but similar to millet. We thought the biggest challenge would be adjusting the machine, but with these new rotor harvesters, it turned out to be simpler than we expected,” explained Vanderson Sobral de Oliveira, an agricultural technician at Jonis’s farm.
Planting began in March and faced challenges with a pest new to the region, which was successfully controlled. According to Vanderson, the plant handled a dry period of up to 15 days quite well.
“During harvest, the main difficulty was fine-tuning operations, adjusting the sieves and the machine. Throughout the season, we noticed it tolerates drought fairly well,” he said.
With a growth cycle of four to five months, carinata develops best during the Brazilian winter and has proven to be resistant to the variations of the tropical climate.
Besides providing extra income, the crop has also become an ally of sustainability. Agronomist engineer Tamara Mundt, from Nuseed, the company responsible for bringing the first seeds to Brazil, highlighted the productive potential of carinata.
“It leaves around seven to ten tons of dry matter per hectare in the soil, which improves the following crop. Today, the largest areas are in Brazil and Argentina, each with about 30,000 hectares. The average yield is 20 to 25 bags per hectare, but its genetic potential is much higher, reaching up to 40 bags in experimental fields,” she explained.
After harvest, production is sent to processing plants, where the grain is crushed and transformed into oil, used to manufacture biofuel for aviation. According to agricultural technician Darlan Maia, all South American production is exported to France.
“This production aligns with the global need to reduce organic carbon. All of it is destined for aviation, which aims to achieve zero carbon emissions from fossil fuels by 2050. Carinata emerges as a viable alternative and a completely clean source of energy,” he said.
For farmers, carinata has proven to be a good business. With an average yield of 10 bags per hectare, the crop ensures profit even in areas that previously served only as soil cover.
“Today it’s sold and traded at the same price as soybeans. If a bag of soybeans costs 120 reais, a bag of carinata costs 120 reais. The production cost is about half that. We expected it to be harder, but it’s really just a matter of adjustment. Now it’s just a matter of moving forward with it as a second option,” said Vanderson.