Is camelina a viable SAF crop in Uruguay? Perspective from farm and industry.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is gaining momentum globally, and oilseed crops like camelina are increasingly part of the conversation. We tried it last year on 200 hectares and will continue this year on 80 hectares.
Camelina is being promoted internationally by players such as Louis Dreyfus Company, typically under contract farming schemes that include seed supply, technical support, and guaranteed offtake. The crop is positioned as a winter rotation, particularly after soybeans, with strong links to SAF demand in Europe and the U.S.
From a Uruguayan perspective, camelina presents an interesting alternative:
• Low input requirements compared to traditional winter crops
• Short cycle, allowing timely planting of soybeans or maize
• A viable option when wheat or barley carry higher risk
Yields are modest, but so are production costs. It can function as a “service crop” within the system, with upside potential in favorable conditions. Current pricing is around USD 500/ton, with yields ranging from ~700 to 1,400 kg/ha depending largely on planting timing and weather conditions.
Challenges remain—particularly around weed control and limited local adoption—but the crop offers flexibility and diversification in increasingly volatile input and climate conditions.
Uruguay is positioning itself in the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) space—not only through crops like camelina or carinata, but now also through industrial investment.
The NovaSAF-1 project in Durazno, led by Syzygy Plasmonics together with Estancias del Lago, marks a shift from concept to execution. With production already contracted to Trafigura, demand is clearly in place.
What stands out is the model: converting agricultural by-products into aviation fuel. It connects farming, energy, and global markets in a very tangible way.
For landowners, the implication is subtle but important. Agriculture is no longer just about crops or livestock—it is becoming part of a broader energy and industrial system.
While not yet mainstream in Uruguay, camelina is worth watching as SAF markets continue to develop and global demand strengthens.
