Terviva Secures Investment to Scale Pongamia for SAF

Agricultural innovation company Terviva has announced a strategic investment from integrated energy company Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd (Idemitsu) to advance efforts to help farmers grow and harvest pongamia for food, feed and fuel.

Idemitsu, in partnership with Terviva and Stanmore, an Australia-based coal resource company, is beginning a trial plantation of Terviva’s pongamia in Queensland, Australia. This collaboration leverages Terviva’s scalable tree production and Idemitsu’s expertise in fuels to accelerate the global production of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) with oil from Terviva’s proprietary pongamia technology. Terviva has developed a model that ensures high yields for farmers and a robust end market for the entire pongamia bean, while Idemitsu’s industry knowledge streamlines the path to market for the oil as SAF.

Pongamia growing in former Florida citrus groves

Pongamia is recognized for its ability to serve as a feedstock for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) using HEFA1 technology. Through this trial planting, Idemitsu Kosan will gain an understanding of growing pongamia in a non-typical cropping area, and work on development and optimization of the supply chain for SAF production. Additionally, the company will explore the creation of carbon credits through afforestation, the production of black pellets from shells for biomass power plants, the use of pressed seed pomace as livestock feed, and other uses beyond feedstock for SAF.

We interviewed Terviva back in October when the company had received an investment from Chevron REG. Learn more about Terviva and pongamia in this interview with CEO Naveen Sikka and COO Simmarpal Singh.

Interview with Terviva (19:04)

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