San Diego-based SG Biofuels (SGB) announced today it has teamed with JetBio–an initiative that includes Airbus, the Inter-American Development Bank, Bioventures Brasil, Rio Pardo Bioenergia, Air BP and TAM Airlines–to accelerate the production of crude jatropha oil as a source for biojet fuel in Brazil. Working with energy crop project developer Bioventures Brasil, SGB plans a multi-phased program that will lead to 75,000 acres of intercropped jatropha plantations using SGB’s JMax hybrid seeds in the central-west region of Brazil. The crude jatropha oil that is produced will be converted into biokerosene for use in aircraft. A study conducted by the Michigan Technological University and UOP Honeywell demonstrated that aviation biofuels made from jatropha reduce aircraft carbon emissions by 65 to 80 percent compared with jet-A. JetBio plans a multi-feedstock approach for aviation biofuel production, focusing on the development of cost-efficient and sustainable sources such as jatropha and sugar-cane-derived biomass. Initial-phase funding for the program includes contributions from Airbus and the Inter-American Development Bank.