Solving air travel's emissions dilemma

CANEGROWERS has welcomed Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s recent public vote of confidence in the sugarcane industry’s ability to supply the feedstock for a biofuels revolution in Queensland.

Announcing a second Sustainable Aviation Fuel project in as many weeks, Premier Palaszczuk declared Queensland “perfectly positioned to be a clean energy superpower because we have … the largest sugar industry in the nation.”

CANEGROWERS Chairman Owen Menkens said the government’s desire to make Queensland a Sustainable Aviation Fuel hub fits perfectly within the industry’s diversification plan.

“One of the main strategic objectives under the recently released Sugar Plus roadmap is to make Queensland’s sugar industry an integral player in the state’s emerging bioeconomy,” Mr Menkens said.

“While the export of high-quality, sustainably produced raw sugar will remain the cornerstone of our industry, with the right government and commercial support, we also have huge potential to expand and diversify into other areas.

“It is very pleasing to see the government taking seriously the prospect of building a sustainable biofuel industry in the state. Queensland’s sugarcane growers stand ready and willing to help make that dream a reality.”

With the Australian Government committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 43% below 2005 levels by 2030, all sectors of the economy have been plotting a pathway to a low emissions future.

Sustainable Aviation Fuels have the potential to reduce the aviation industry’s carbon emissions by up to 80%, significantly boosting the nation’s effort towards that 2030 target. 

Mr Menkens said Queensland sugarcane growers were in a position to help the aviation industry achieve its emissions reduction target, having spent a decade reducing their own carbon footprint.

“With more than 1500 domestic flights in Australia every day, the aviation industry burns through an awful lot of highly polluting jet fuel,” Mr Menkens said.

“But while the aviation industry’s emissions continue to increase, cane growers by comparison have spent a decade reducing their carbon footprint as part of ongoing efforts to improve water quality – efforts which have the knock-on effect of slashing emissions.

“Through the use of sugarcane and its derivatives to produce sustainable, low-emission biofuels and bioenergy, Queensland’s sugar industry has a huge role to play in helping Australia reach its emission reduction targets.”

CANEGROWERS recently commissioned an in-depth analysis of the industry’s emissions as part of the development of a new climate change policy. The findings came as a surprise, albeit a very pleasant one.

“The bulk of the industry’s emissions come from the volatilisation of nitrogen, which in layman’s terms is when nitrogen fertiliser spread in the paddock is not used by the crop and converts to nitrous oxide which is a greenhouse gas,” Mr Menkens said.

“By adhering to strict nutrient management strategies that ensure growers are only applying fertiliser required by the crop, and positioning this fertiliser below the surface, growers have significantly decreased the amount of nitrous oxide lost to the environment.

“Meanwhile, the implementation of minimum till and controlled traffic systems on farms has greatly reduced the operating time of large agricultural machinery, slashing diesel usage across the industry.

“Add to that the fact that many farmers have installed large solar systems to power irrigation units, and the scale of emissions reductions in the industry becomes impressive.

“We will continue to adapt and innovate to ensure growers are operating as efficiently, cost-effectively, and profitably as possible. Profitability being the ultimate goal,” Mr Menkens said.

“But we will look to achieve this with an eye to the future and the changing role that our great industry can have in Queensland and Australia’s growing bioeconomy – a role that will benefit the whole community.”