An unusual coalition of Hawaiʻi airline executives, farmers and ranchers, and fuel refineries is eyeing a new crop they hope will be almost as big to the islands as sugar was in its heyday.
The Hawaiʻi Renewable Fuels Coalition sees the camelina plant, a brassica and close relative of canola, as a multi-win crop. Farmers could plant it between food crops to improve soil and its seeds can be harvested and pressed for oil, while a byproduct of that processing can feed poultry and cattle. The oil, in turn, can become eco-friendly jet fuel.
That plan would help Hawaiian Airlines achieve its lofty but looming carbon emissions goals, while also paving the way for the state’s 2045 decarbonization targets. And the livestock feed byproduct would fill a gap in Hawaiʻi’s agricultural supply chain…