Industry Leaders Urge National Strategy to Propel Aviation’s Net-Zero Ambitions

ROBERT HEYWARD

A coalition of Australia’s agricultural and fuel industry representatives is calling on the Federal Government to urgently develop a national low-carbon liquid fuel feedstock strategy.

This strategy is seen as essential for realizing the ambitious goals outlined in the Federal Government’s Aviation White Paper released this week.

agricultural nation, Australia is wellpositioned to become a global leader in producing feedstock for low-carbon liquid fuels. The country’s vast agricultural resources offer the potential to produce signifcant quantities of feedstock, which could play a pivotal role in meeting national emissions reduction targets while also revitalizing rural economies.

meets its domestic energy needs but also emerges as a signifcant player in the global low-carbon fuel market.

“Sustainable aviation fuels offer an exciting diversifcation opportunity for the sugar industry, with the potential to supply close to 10% of the domestic aviation fuel market through byproducts alone,” noted Ash Salardini, CEO of ASMC.

low-carbon liquid fuels,” Gawel said.

A Call for Government Leadership

The push is led by key industry groups, including GrainGrowers, the Australian Sugar Milling Council (ASMC), and the Queensland Cane Growers Organisation (CANEGROWERS). These groups emphasize that low-carbon liquid fuels have been designated a priority under the government’s Future Made in Australia program and are critical to the aviation sector’s pursuit of net-zero emissions.

Australia’s Unique Position

As a leading

“The Future Made in Australia program presents a once-in-ageneration opportunity to develop a new low-carbon fuel industry, grounded in our worldleading sustainable farming practices,” said Dan Galligan, CEO of CANEGROWERS.

Strategic Coordination Needed

The industry leaders stress the importance of a strategic and coordinated approach to fully realize this potential. They argue that a national strategy would align government policies with industry capabilities, ensuring that Australia not only

Shona Gawel, CEO of GrainGrowers, echoed the call for a unifed strategy from the Australian Government, emphasizing that it would build on the existing strengths of the industry.

“Australia’s expertise in world-leading grain and oilseed production practices provides a reliable and scalable source of lower-carbon feedstock, supported by established supply chains. As one of the world’s largest grain exporters, Australia is well-positioned to produce crops like canola and sorghum for

The industry groups argue that government leadership is crucial to ensuring a sustainable and consistent supply of raw materials for lowcarbon fuel production. They advocate for a coordinated effort between government and industry to unlock the full potential of Australia’s agricultural supply chains.

“As global demand for sustainable fuels continues to rise, Australia’s leadership in feedstock production could yield signifcant economic and environmental benefts,” said Salardini.

Galligan concluded by stating that a national feedstock strategy would not only support Australia’s emissions reduction goals but also position the country as a key supplier in the global biofuels market, creating thousands of jobs in agriculture and regional communities.