One way to do so is to find ways to support domestic energy production with an “all of the above” strategy that embraces all forms of domestically sourced and produced energy. Without action by Congress and the Trump Administration, America risks falling behind our global competitors, led by China, in producing a critically important source of our energy independence: Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
SAF was invented in the U.S. by American innovators in our private sector. They have developed novel ways to convert crops, plants, biomass, captured gases, waste and even used cooking oil into jet fuel. SAF is blended with jet fuel without the need to modify existing aircraft. SAF also creates good-paying jobs and new economic opportunities for farmers and communities in rural America. With farmers worried about tariffs impacting their sales abroad, the Trump Administration can act today to encourage more U.S. crops are converted into SAF that are produced here in America.
Right now, countries like China and Brazil are incentivizing their farmers, boosting SAF production and imported SAF into the U.S. at the expense of our domestic energy producers. As a result, American aviation relies heavily on SAF that’s produced outside of the US.
American farmers are going to feel some pain of the Trump trade measures, because foreign nations are already working to block exported farm products from the United States. Politico reported on April 3, 2025, “Trump administration officials are assuring farm-state Republicans they will funnel billions of taxpayer dollars to farmers who are hit by President Donald Trump’s intensifying trade war.” Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins met with Sens. John Boozman (R-AR) and John Hoeven (R-ND) to discuss how to add some funding of farm bill programs to the upcoming budget reconciliation measure to help hurting farmers.
SAF creates new markets for American agriculture, bioenergy, and technology developers. Incentivizing more SAF production in the U.S. will create new opportunities for American agriculture and will help mitigate the impact of trade actions by our global competitors.
The alternative fuels produced by farmers for aviation is widely used by commercial aircraft today and could be wholly sourced in the United States with the right policy. Sustainable fuels, SAFs, as described by the U.S. Department of Energy are “an alternative fuel made from non-petroleum feedstocks” that can “be blended at different levels with limits between 10% and 50%, depending on the feedstock and how the fuel is produced.” They cite the International Civil Aviation Organization for the fact that over 360,000 commercial flights have used SAF in the U.S. and Europe.
Although SAFs have some positive environmental impact, it is important to note the economic aspect of insourcing production. Insourcing while helping farmers who will be hurt by their products being cut off from export to China because of the tariff battle going on between the U.S. and China is good policy. The market domestically is vast for these fuels because an American aircraft can use up to 50% SAF that ends up blending with traditional fossil fuels with that percentage increasing every year.
It makes no economic sense to have the Department of Energy set high targets for SAF, while we import from China and Brazil. The technology exists to convert American crops and plants to fuel. There also is the capability to use biomass and other resources to produce more domestically. Federal policy should be to encourage domestic production through subsidies and tax credits, while discouraging companies from importing from other nations farmers.
China and Brazil have been especially focused on dominating the SAF market. Valor International reported on April 23, 2025, “Chinese renewable energy company Envision is considering investments in Brazil to produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).” The platform Sustainable Aviation Fuels Futures cited that “Brazil's diverse agricultural landscape offers a variety of feedstocks suitable for SAF production” including sugarcane bagasse and straw, cattle manure, and municipal solid waste.” Brazil and China are large exporters of SAF to the United States.
America is already drilling, mining and fracking our way energy independence. We can do the same by unleashing American agriculture, bioenergy, timber and other industries and encouraging them to grow/create more feedstock to generate more SAF here at home.
This strategic move not only benefits the environment but also secures the U.S.'s position in the global energy race. By driving innovation and ensuring robust supply chains, the U.S. stands poised to effectively counter China's efforts in the SAF domain, securing America as the leader in this competitive future for all. As the skies beckon with the promise of sustainable flights, the role of the U.S. government in fostering SAF development is crucial. It ensures a greener tomorrow, setting the pace for sustainable aviation on a global scale.
Now is the time for our government to support the domestic production of this fuel so American companies don’t have to rely on foreign sourced sustainable fuel.
Leif Larson is a media consultant and media strategist for multiple political candidates and issue campaigns across the country.
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