Flying the friendly skies remains – mostly – a popular past-time, but the airline industry is working hard to cut its carbon footprint. And while there’s growing interest in electric power for airplanes, that’s in the more distant future. For now, jet engines need to run on fuel but soon more of that fuel will come from alternative sources using crop feedstocks like corn or soybeans.

What could this market mean for farmers? And what are the challenges that make converting the airline industry to sustainable aviation fuels difficult? In this episode of Around Farm Progress, we turned to Patrick Gruber, CEO of Gevo, an energy company making a significant investment in sustainable aviation fuels. In addition, Gevo has already signed significant deals with major airlines to supply these fuels in the future.

Gruber talks about producing the new fuels, including work on a new plant in Lake Preston, S.D., which will break ground later this year. The key to this plant is not only the fuels produced but processes used to reduce the plant’s own carbon impact aiming to make the new fuels net zero for buyers, but perhaps even net negative – a story airlines like to hear.

He even discusses the importance of telling agriculture’s sustainability story, something Gevo does by taking airline executives out of the office and onto farms. It’s an interesting look at a potential new demand resource for farm commodities. Give it a listen.

If this is the first time you've listened to the podcast, please like and subscribe. If you want to use another podcast source you can listen (and subscribe) on Apple, Amazon Music and Spotify.

More podcasts and coverage

Beyond Around Farm Progress we've got more podcasts to share. Check out all our podcast links at FarmProgress.com/farm-progress-podcasts to keep up on not only Around Farm Progress but daily updates from Max Armstrong, and more.

And if you want quick access to top news from Farm Progress, sign up for our mobile text service by texting FARM to 20505. Note that there may be a text or data cost for using the service.

The podcast Around Farm Progress goes live online by 3 p.m. Central time each Friday and will engage editors from around the country as well as experts in our industry. You can listen to this week's episode above or subscribe using your favorite podcast service just search "Around Farm Progress" and subscribe so you don't miss an episode.

Farmers are getting their information in new ways. Farm Progress is a leader in reaching them as needed. From top magazines around the country to one of the first agriculture-focused mobile apps from Farm Futures, to the leading television presence with This Week in Agribusiness, the company covers all media for agriculture.

Comments or questions? Just send a note to [email protected].