Published by Todd Bush on June 19, 2026
This is the first time in the world that fuel has been produced from certified soybeans without impacting land-use change under the international ISCC CORSIA PLUS protocol; the product has the potential to reduce emissions in the aviation sector by approximately 70% when compared to traditional aviation fuel.
São Paulo, June 2026 – Giants in the production chain announce the first Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) produced from Brazilian soybeans with ISCC CORSIA PLUS Low-LUC Risk certification. This unprecedented initiative is a partnership between Bunge — a leading global company that connects farmers to consumers to supply essential food, ingredients, and fuels to the world — Petrobras, the largest Brazilian company and the first SAF producer in Latin America to obtain the international CORSIA sustainability certification for SAF, and Vibra, the largest fuel distributor in Brazil and a leader in the aviation sector, who are ready to market the product to airlines.
The use of SAF (Sustainable Agricultural Products) can help the global aviation sector meet its climate goals, driving significant demand for low-carbon renewable raw materials. This initiative demonstrates that Brazilian soybeans have the potential to be a sustainable raw material solution on a large scale, enabling the fulfillment of local and international decarbonization mandates.
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In this partnership, Bunge is responsible for the origination and certification of the soybeans and the production of vegetable oil at its crushing plant in Rondonópolis (MT). Petrobras, in turn, produces the SAF (soybean starch) at its Duque de Caxias (RJ) plant through the co-processing of this oil with a mineral-based feedstock. Vibra, through its BR Aviation business unit, is responsible for the distribution and commercialization infrastructure of the fuel for the aviation sector. The project foresees the production and commercialization of 4,000 m³ of aviation fuel with 1% renewable content, a volume sufficient to supply the operation of 1,600 flights on the Rio-São Paulo air bridge, initially offered at Galeão International Airport (GIG) in Rio de Janeiro, where the company's storage base has ISCC EU and ISCC CORSIA certification, guaranteeing full traceability and compliance with international sustainability criteria.
The ISCC CORSIA PLUS certification , recognized by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), is part of the CORSIA (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation) program, created to encourage the adoption of renewable fuels in global aviation. It defines all the ESG requirements necessary to ensure that the product is indeed sustainable. To receive the ISCC CORSIA PLUS certification, the entire production chain must meet the rigorous sustainability standards required by CORSIA, including proof that the relevant cultivation areas were converted before 2008, guaranteeing full traceability of the supply chain, and reducing emissions through sustainable practices, all verified through audits conducted by independent companies.
The distinguishing feature of the biofuel produced from this recognition lies precisely in the high sustainability criteria met by Brazilian soybeans, which also obtained low-LUC risk certification (land use change), demonstrating productivity gains over the years through sustainable management practices. This proves that the commodity is not associated with the opening of new planting areas and is 100% traceable and monitored. Furthermore, the emissions associated with the production of this biofuel are significantly lower than the emission standards presented in international SAF (Sustainable Agricultural Production) regulations. The partnership between Bunge, Petrobras, and Vibra enters the market to boost decarbonization and can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 70% compared to traditional aviation kerosene (QAV), as determined by life cycle analysis methodology.
“Official data on Brazilian crops published by Conab (National Supply Company) demonstrate that the productivity gain in soybeans over the last decade has been greater than 20%, the result of extensive work in developing best practices in the field. Now, through this unprecedented initiative, Bunge is pioneering in proving and certifying this reality, meeting the strictest international sustainability standards for soybeans,” highlights Christini Kubo, Director of Renewable Fuel Solutions at Bunge in South America.
“The commercialization of the world’s first SAF (Sustainable Agricultural Production) with ILUC-certified low-risk soybeans demonstrates Petrobras’ commitment to sustainability, the energy transition, and the development of products aligned with market and societal demands. More than that, it also reflects our firm purpose of encouraging our suppliers’ production chain to adopt verifiable sustainable practices,” stated Angélica Laureano, Petrobras’ Director of Logistics, Commercialization and Markets.
“Sustainability is the central pillar of Bunge’s strategy. We were the first trader to make a voluntary commitment to having our value chains free from deforestation and conversion of native vegetation; we are the first global commodity exporter to achieve 100% traceability and monitoring of our direct and indirect soy purchases in priority regions of the Cerrado; we have strong environmental policies and consistently invest in promoting regenerative agriculture practices with our partners. Our clients are increasingly demanding in terms of sustainability, and we have proven efficient in translating these demands to our partner agricultural producers,” says Christini. “By becoming the first crusher to supply certified soy with no documented impact on land use for SAF production, we are materializing consistent and transparent work that has developed over the years. This certification reinforces Bunge’s position as a leader in integration and innovation in the development of low-emission raw material solutions for renewable markets,” he concludes.
As the first distributor to offer SAF (Steel Accelerated Fuel) on a commercial scale in Brazil and the absolute market share leader in the aviation segment, supplying 6 out of every 10 flights in the country, Vibra plays a strategic role in the development of this market. Furthermore, it is the only distributor with ISCC EU and ISCC CORSIA certification at the Galeão aviation base (obtained since October 2024 and renewed annually), which receives the only SAF currently produced in the country, by Petrobras' Duque de Caxias Refinery. Vibra is currently the only distributor capable of supplying SAF with sustainability tracking throughout the entire production and distribution chain for its clients. The company also works to connect the different links in the chain, reducing the costs of the model through the optimization and reorganization of its infrastructure, installed capacity, and logistical reach to include SAF sustainably, enabling the commercialization, traceability, and distribution of the biofuel for aircraft refueling. This initiative strengthens the sector's preparedness for the mandatory SAF mandate scheduled to begin in 2027 and is aligned with Vibra's strategy of expanding its offering of decarbonization solutions to its clients, contributing to the development of a more robust and competitive national supply chain.
“Vibra is once again at the forefront of building the SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) market in Brazil, as an essential part of the chain, demonstrating its strength in distribution and transforming innovative initiatives like this one, in partnership with Bunge and Petrobras, into concrete solutions for our clients. This project reinforces our commitment to providing the necessary tools for the energy transition in the aviation sector, driving the development of a sustainable national supply chain and preparing the market for the future of sustainable aviation fuel in the country,” says Daniel Drumond, Vice President of Operations at Vibra.
Due to its strategic position in the global agri-food chain, Bunge works to engage and empower rural producers, supporting their efforts to transition to low-carbon agriculture. Through its Regenerative Agriculture Program, the company promotes sustainable productivity gains, ensuring greater availability of raw materials without expanding into native vegetation areas and without competing with the food and animal nutrition ingredient markets. The program offers technical support for certification, tools, products, and services, promoting increased productivity and reduced costs through practices that help improve soil fertility, increase the potential for carbon storage in the soil, promote biodiversity, improve water retention and infiltration in the soil, and optimize energy consumption and the management of agricultural inputs.
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