Corteva, Inc. and bp have announced the launch of Etlas™, a new 50:50 joint venture aimed at producing sustainable biofuel feedstocks for global energy markets. The partnership brings together Corteva’s expertise in advanced seed and crop technology with bp’s integrated capabilities in fuel processing, refining, and marketing, supporting the growing demand for low-carbon fuels.
Etlas will focus on producing oil from crops such as canola, mustard, and sunflower, which will be used in the manufacture of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel (RD). The venture is designed to strengthen the biofuels value chain by ensuring a reliable, scalable supply of high-quality feedstocks for commercial biofuel production.
According to the companies, Etlas aims to produce around one million metric tonnes of feedstock annually by the mid-2030s, with the potential to generate over 800,000 metric tonnes of biofuel each year. Initial feedstock supply is expected to begin in 2027, supporting both co-processing at existing refineries and dedicated biofuel production facilities.
The launch comes as global demand for biofuels accelerates rapidly. Industry projections suggest that SAF demand could grow to nearly 10 million tonnes by 2030, up from about 1 million tonnes in 2024, while renewable diesel demand may rise to around 35 million tonnes over the same period. Etlas has been structured to help meet this rising demand by providing consistent and responsibly sourced feedstocks.
A key feature of the Etlas model is its use of intermediate crops grown on existing farmland between primary food cropping seasons. These crops are cultivated during periods when land would otherwise remain fallow, helping to improve soil health and nitrogen balance while creating an additional income stream for farmers, without increasing pressure on land use.
Leadership for the new venture has also been announced. Ignacio Conti, Global Business Development Director at Corteva, will serve as Chief Executive Officer of Etlas, while Gaurav Sonar, Vice President – Novel Feedstocks at bp, will take on the role of Chair of the Board of Directors.
The companies emphasized that Etlas reflects a shared commitment to sustainability, farmer engagement, and energy transition goals. By combining agricultural innovation with downstream energy expertise, the joint venture seeks to support decarbonization in hard-to-abate sectors such as aviation and heavy transport, while enabling farmers to participate directly in the growing biofuels economy.
With Etlas™, Corteva and bp position agriculture as a key contributor to the future of renewable energy, linking farm-level innovation with global efforts to build a more sustainable fuel supply chain.
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