Solaris plants, a new hybrid type of tobacco plant, at a test farm in South Africa’s Limpopo province (Photo: SkyNRG)

6 August 2014 South African Airways is partnering with US aerospace giant Boeing and Amsterdam-based SkyNRG to make sustainable aviation biofuel from a new type of tobacco plant, in a pioneering project that could make aviation more environment-friendly while advancing rural development in southern Africa. “It’s an honour for Boeing to work with South African Airways on a pioneering project to make sustainable jet fuel from an energy-rich tobacco plant,” J Miguel Santos, Boeing’s MD for Africa, said in a joint statement on Wednesday. “South Africa is leading efforts to commercialize a valuable new source of biofuel that can further reduce aviation’s environmental footprint and advance the region’s economy.” According to the statement, SkyNRG is expanding production of the hybrid plant, known as Solaris, as an energy crop…