Florida project investigating viability of sugarbeet-to-jet fuel shows promise

In Florida, Tropicana and local partners are finishing up an 18-month R&D project funded by an USDA Rural Development grant that is determining the viability of growing sugarbeet in St. Lucie county for aviation biofuel production. The crop’s cycle fits in well with citrus and could be an opportunity for local farmers to diversify and reduce impacts from citrus greening that has damaged the local economy. The results of the Farm to Fly – From the Ground Up Research Study so far have been promising.