Speaking during a business roundtable meeting in Chicago Monday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the United States is particularly well positioned to transition to a broader bioeconomy, which includes production of aviation fuel in commercial quantities. He also pointed out that the American farmer has logged substantial productivity gains over time to meet growing demands for food and fiber and now biomass.

The Secretary also said a robust rural economy will result by implementing the Obama Administration’s vision for renewable fuel development which creates sustainable jobs by combining new markets, new technologies and better use of available natural resources. The roundtable was attended by representative of United Continental Holdings and Honeywell.

The Secretary said the FAA and the aviation industry have invested more than 80-million dollars in research focused on developing aviation biofuels. And to encourage the production of advanced biofuels from non-food sources, USDA has made payments to 235 companies already producing biofuels from non-corn feedstocks in 42 states.

Courtesy: NAFB News