Cemvita, Invest RS team up feedstock plant for SAF in Brazil

US-based industrial biotechnology company Cemvita said it has signed an agreement with Government of Rio Grande do Sul’s Invest RS to build a FermOil production facility in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

This oil will be used as feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production.

Earlier this year, Cemvita announced a partnership with Be8, a biofuel pioneer, also located in Rio Grande do Sul to strengthen the SAF value chain. The two companies agreed to develop the conversion of glycerin (a byproduct of biodiesel production) into low-carbon feedstock to produce SAF.

The facility will be used to produce low-carbon oil derived from crude glycerol, which will serve as feedstock for the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

“The signing of this engagement agreement with Cemvita marks a strategic milestone for Rio Grande do Sul and reinforces our leadership in innovation and technology. Invest RS’s role is precisely to enable projects like this, connecting companies with our state and offering technical support and tailored solutions,” said Rafael Prikladnicki, president of Invest RS.

Invest RS provides specialized technical support, institutional coordination, value chain mapping, identification of industrial areas, and assistance in securing economic and tax incentives.

The plant will be the first in the world to operate at industrial scale using this bioconversion technology. The project represents a major technological leap that positions the state at the forefront of the energy transition, with direct impact on sectors such as aviation, agriculture, and renewable energy.

“Brazil, and especially Rio Grande do Sul, aligns perfectly with Cemvita’s strategic vision,” said Moji Karimi, CEO of Cemvita. “It offers the infrastructure, regulatory environment, and feedstocks needed to scale up our waste-to-value platform. We’re excited to find public and private partners equally committed to driving a low-carbon transition.”

Invest RS is the Rio Grande do Sul Development Agency.