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Abstract
The aviation sector in the United States emitted 255 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2019, i.e., about five percent of the total domestic CO2 emissions from the energy sector. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from carinata (Brassica carinata) could reduce the CO2 emissions of the aviation sector nationwide. The southeastern (SE) region of the United States could play a crucial role in carinata production with their year-round growing season, suitable soils, and sufficient rainfall. In this context, it is essential to assess the environmental-economic impacts of carinata-based SAF both at the farm and supply chain levels. We assessed a total of 292 crop rotations with/without carinata in South Georgia. We also set up a supply chain model for carinata-based SAF in Georgia. Farm-level results show that carinata has the highest profit in corn-corn-soybean rotation. It has the lowest risk in cotton-cotton-peanut rotation. We found that carinata is the most eco-efficient in cotton-cotton-peanut rotation. Carinata improves NPV and risk by $260.59/ha and 8.08%. It also decreases environmental impacts by about 1,039 kg of CO2/ha. The supply chain model showed that carinata-based SAF is not economically feasible since the SAF unit price can be as low as $1.23/liter, which is still higher than the conventional fuel of $0.49/liter. Overall, carinata make farms more profitable, less risky, and more eco-efficient; however, economic incentives from the government are needed to make carinata-based SAF supply chain feasible in the SE United States.