Boeing, Embraer to open joint biofuel research center

US aerospace giant Boeing and Brazil's Embraer said Monday theywill open a joint research center in Brazil to develop a sustainable biofuel for theaviation industry.The research "will focus on technologies that address gaps in a supply chain forsustainable aviation biofuel in Brazil, such as feedstock production and processing technologies," the companies said in a statement.When produced in sustainable ways, aviation biofuels, made from renewableresources such as plants, significantly reduce carbon emissions.The two companies estimated aviation biofuel emits 50 to 80 percent less carbonthrough its lifecycle than petroleum jet fuel.Globally, more than 1,500 passenger flights using biofuel have been conducted sincethe fuel was approved for use in 2011, they noted. The research center will be located in Sao Jose dos Campos, an industrial andresearch hub in southeastern Brazil where Embraer is based.