Environmental, economic and social impact of aviation biofuel production in Brazil

• The development of alternative fuels is an essential initiative aiming at maintaining the energy security of a nation and reducing the dependency on fossil fuels.
• Aviation biofuels have great potential to complement current matrix of aviation and can bring energy sources able to compete with the high costs of petroleum.
• Supply chains of raw materials for obtaining this bioenergetics have environmental impacts.

The Brazilian aviation industry is currently developing biofuel technologies that can maintain the operational and energy demands of the sector, while reducing the dependence on fossil fuels (mainly kerosene) and greenhouse gas emissions. The aim of the current research was to identify the major environmental, economic and social impacts arising from the production of aviation biofuels in Brazil. Despite the great potential of these fuels, there is a significant need for improved routes of production and specifically for lower production costs of these materials. In addition, the productive chains of raw materials for obtaining these bioenergetics can be linked to environmental impacts by NOx emissions, extensive use of agricultural land, loss of wildlife and intensive water use, as well as economic, social and political impacts.