Why the Future of SAF Depends on Local Feedstocks

For years, the conversation around Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) focused primarily on reducing emissions. Today, another priority is shaping the future of the industry: energy security.

As the International Energy Agency (IEA) notes in its State of Energy Policy 2026 report, "Energy has been elevated to a core issue of national and economic security." This reflects a growing understanding that resilient energy systems depend not only on clean technologies, but also on secure and diversified supply chains.

As more countries adopt SAF blending mandates and aviation moves toward decarbonization, the industry faces a new challenge: securing enough sustainable feedstocks to meet future demand.

Today, much of the world's SAF is produced from feedstocks such as used cooking oil, animal fats, and vegetable oils.

While these resources have enabled the first generation of SAF production, they are limited in availability and increasingly compete with other industries. As demand continues to grow, expanding the range of available feedstocks is becoming essential.

This is where new feedstock pathways can make a real difference.

NAKI's technology converts food industry waste into MIDA Oil, a renewable intermediate feedstock for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production. By transforming a continuous industrial waste stream into a valuable resource, it creates a new local source of feedstock while reducing waste disposal costs and supporting circular manufacturing.

The IEA also highlights the importance of resilient supply chains, noting that "Resilient supply chains emerged as central themes" in today's energy policies. Expanding the diversity of locally available feedstocks is becoming an important part of building a more secure and scalable SAF ecosystem.

The future of SAF will depend not only on producing more sustainable fuel, but also on developing new, scalable, and locally available feedstocks. Technologies that diversify feedstock sources while strengthening circular economies can play an important role in accelerating aviation's transition to lower-carbon fuels.

Reference

International Energy Agency (IEA). State of Energy Policy 2026 – Executive Summary https://www.iea.org/reports/state-of-energy-policy-2026/executive-summary