In a major development aimed at accelerating the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in India, the Indian Sugar & Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) has entered into a strategic partnership with the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB). The collaboration seeks to build capacity across key sugarcane-producing states, including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka, to implement the RSB ICAO CORSIA Certification.
This initiative will provide stakeholders with the knowledge and tools necessary to produce SAF that is both sustainably sourced and traceable throughout the supply chain—qualifying it under the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). RSB’s certification framework ensures compliance with rigorous sustainability and traceability standards, rooted in its globally recognised sustainability principles.
The RSB ICAO CORSIA certification promotes responsible sourcing of feedstocks, guarantees full traceability, and contributes to meaningful reductions in greenhouse gas emissions—supporting the broader decarbonisation of aviation. As part of the initiative, RSB will deliver tailored training materials and tools to support farmers, sugar mill workers, and small-scale enterprises across India.
Through region-specific workshops and locally adapted outreach, the programme will foster understanding of the bioeconomy, SAF, and sustainability certification within sugarcane supply chains. A special focus will be placed on empowering smallholder farmers. The broader aim of the project is to develop grassroots leadership and unlock the potential of India’s sugar-based bioenergy sector, thereby aligning with national and global aviation decarbonisation goals.
By adopting RSB’s standards at both the farm and mill levels, ISMA seeks to ensure that India’s SAF transition is technologically sound, socially equitable, and environmentally responsible.
“We are proud to lead India’s SAF capacity-building movement. This partnership with RSB places ISMA at the forefront of shaping a resilient, inclusive, and globally aligned SAF value chain rooted in our sugar sector,” said Deepak Ballani, Director General of ISMA.
Arianna Baldo, Programme Director at RSB, added, “India plays a critical role in the global SAF landscape, with abundant feedstock potential and strong policy momentum. Through this partnership, we aim to equip sugarcane producers with the tools and knowledge to meet the sustainability demands of the SAF economy, ensuring that both feedstock and fuel production align with RSB’s globally trusted sustainability standards.”
This initiative is part of the broader SAF Horizon: Building Capacity for a Just and Sustainable Energy Transition (2025–2026) project, led by RSB and supported by Boeing. The collaboration signals a transformative step toward a technology-driven and sustainability-focused energy future—where environmental responsibility and rural livelihoods go hand in hand. As a founding member of the Global Biofuels Alliance, India now possesses a concrete framework and strengthened international cooperation to advance its SAF ambitions.
