Next-generation fuel for aircraft coming from tomato waste
A new biofuel project has been developed to prevent millions of tons of tomato waste from harming the environment in Europe each year. In the near future, tomato waste will be used as a sustainable energy source for aircraft.
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Every year, a large portion of the approximately 17 million tons of tomatoes produced in European Union countries—beyond what reaches dinner tables—turns into waste during the processing or harvesting stages. While this biomass was mostly destroyed by burning in the past, this method both harmed the environment and placed an additional burden on producers. However, the EU-backed initiative called “ToFuel,” led by Graz University of Technology, is preparing to break this cycle.
Within the scope of the “ToFuel” project, a new biotechnology is being developed to convert tomato waste into Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). One of the biggest challenges in reducing the carbon footprint in the aviation sector has been that existing engine designs and infrastructure are not suitable for an immediate transition to electric or hydrogen solutions. For this reason, SAFs, which do not require any changes to existing aircraft, are seen as the most viable solution in the short term.
The project does not stop at fuel production for aircraft; the by-products obtained create new opportunities in agriculture and the food industry. For example, natural fertilizer, animal feed, and edible oils can also be produced from the tomato waste used to obtain biofuel. Thanks to this approach, while the cost of waste disposal decreases, a significant reduction in the amount of carbon released into nature is also expected.
With the integrated system developed, a circular economy model is targeted. The tomato biomass, which is seen as waste, will both offer a new energy alternative to the aviation sector and create an additional source of income for the food and agriculture industries.
Experts predict that once the project is fully implemented, approximately 3 percent of Europe's sustainable aviation fuel needs could be met solely from tomato waste by 2030. This multinational initiative, which has received millions of Euros in investment, confirms once again the saying, “One man's trash is another man's treasure.” In this way, a new and sustainable door of cooperation is being opened between the agricultural and aviation industries.