Brazil's energy minister on Monday said a UN decision to recognize the environmental benefits of multicropping in producing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) was a victory for the South American country, where farmers often grow more than one crop on the same land.
The celebrations in Brazil follow reports earlier this month from Reuters which revealed that, according to two sources, the United States was planning to object to the recommendation during a review by the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) 36-member council.
"This victory at the ICAO is further proof that Brazil is the great leader in the global energy transition, and we are leading with sustainable, fair and inclusive solutions," Brazil's Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira, said in a statement.
The ICAO took the decision to recognize the benefits of multicropping for producing SAF on Friday June 27, according to Brazil's government. The ICAO was not immediately available to comment.
The U.S. State Department declined to comment.
In March, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the recommendation would penalize U.S. producers and give Brazil unfair advantages over the rest of the world, saying it would award a lower carbon score to multicropping, or farming when two or more crops like corn and soy are grown on the same land, a common practice Brazil.
