Honeywell, the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, Boeing and Etihad Airways have announced an agreement to establish a research institute in Abu Dhabi dedicated to pioneering bioenergy research.The institute, the Sustainable Bioenergy Research Project (SBRP), will use integrated saltwater agricultural systems to support the development and commercialization of biofuel sourcess for aviation and co-products.The SBRP will undertake research projects that combine the arid and salt-rich environment of Abu Dhabi with innovative and promising saltwater farming practices.The Masdar Institute will host the SBRP and provide laboratory and demonstration facilities both within and outside of Masdar City, the world’s first zero-carbon city.The SBRP team will focus on an integrated seawater agriculture systems (ISAS) approach, which is a highly efficient system for producing liquid and solid biofuels, capturing and holding carbon from the atmosphere, enlarging habitats to increase biodiversity, and simultaneously releasing fresh water for higher value uses such as drinking water. ISAS also has the potential to reduce the impacts of sea level rise on coastal communities.The integrated approach uses saltwater to create an aquaculture-based farming system in parallel with the growth of the mangrove forests and Salicornia, a plant that thrives in salty water. These biomass srouces can be sustainable harvested and used to generate clean energy, aviation biofuels and other products. The closed-loop system converts aquaculture effulent into an affordable, nutrient-rich fertilizer for both plant species.Developing low-cost, non-petroleum fertilizers is a key to achieving reductions in carbon emissions from any biofuel source. This technology has been pioneed by Dr. Carl Hodges of Global Seawater Inc., who has been engaged as special advisor to the project.The integrated saltwater farming approach uses saltwater to create an aquaculture-based farming system, in which fish and other seafood are produced using scientific best practices.This closed-loop system converts what would otherwise be problematic aquaculture effluent in seawater into an affordable and nutrient-rich fertilizer that can used to irrigate and fertilize mangrove forests and Salicornia, a salt-tolerant plant. The mangrove and Salicornia can then be harvested and, using UOP process technology, converted into sustainable aviation biofuels.The development of low-cost, non-petroleum fertilizers is one of the keys to achieving genuine carbon emissions reductions from any biofuel source.This revolutionary seawater farming concept has been successfully implemented in Mexico and Northern Africa by Global Seawater Inc., who will provide advice and insight to support the SBRP in Abu Dhabi.