Sugarcane hits the sweet spot for sustainable carbon

When anyone talks about the future of sustainable aviation fuel, one question dominates: how do we replace fossil carbon without compromising food security or biodiversity? My experience leads me to believe the answer is sugarcane.

At the ARC Research Hub for Engineering Plants to Replace Fossil Carbon, we’re working with global technology leaders using the latest science to solve this challenge.

Our mission is ambitious: create economically viable, renewable aviation fuel at the scale this huge industry needs. Plants are the best current source for renewable carbon, and all available evidence suggests sugarcane is the plant offering the best chance of success.

Sugarcane is the only crop currently produced at the tonnage demanded for this purpose.

Other options, like algae, sound promising in theory, but the economics don’t add up. Algal systems are expensive, and unless you can generate a high-value co-product, they will not be cost-effective.

Canola is another option being considered internationally. A lot of Australia’s canola is being exported into Europe and turned into fuel rather than food, so that is a food issue. But more than that, it’s a scale issue. The yield of canola is a few tonnes per hectare, so the land you’d need to grow enough to replace jet fuel is more than the area of Australia.

Land use is a critical consideration. So, what crops can you scale? Sugarcane is productive and grown on a relatively small proportion of land. Its small footprint and exceptional productivity make it the standout choice.

Our research at the Hub focuses on improving plant biomass to convert it into fuel. We’re exploring genetic changes in rice, sorghum and sugarcane to increase the proportion of biomass that can be converted without sacrificing yield.

Rice is our model system as it’s easier to manipulate genetically. Once we identify promising changes in rice, we will test some of the most effective in sorghum, sugarcane’s closest relative among domesticated crops. If it works in sorghum, we can transfer the most promising alternatives to sugarcane, where the genetics are more complex. This tiered approach saves time and resources and increases our chances of success.

Australia and Queensland, in particular, are uniquely positioned to lead this transformation. We have a well-established sugarcane industry, strong research capability, and global partnerships that can accelerate innovation.

Australians fly more than almost anyone else, so the demand for sustainable aviation fuel is enormous in the domestic market. If we can produce sustainable fuel commercially, which we are on track to do, the world will quickly adopt it. The Hub’s aim is to find ways to reduce costs further, making the investment compelling.

The challenge now is clear: breed crops with a high proportion of convertible biomass without sacrificing yield. It’s a complex puzzle, but one worth solving.

Sugarcane hits the sweet spot. It’s productive, sustainable, and scalable. If we get this right, Australia won’t just be part of the solution; we’ll be leading it.

Professor Henry’s perspective was published in Agriculture Communications.

Collaboration and acknowledgements