The Virgin Atlantic jumbo jet flew from London to Amsterdam with one of its tanks filled with a fuel blend including babassu oil and coconut oil.
Virgin founder Richard Branson reportedly hailed the flight as a step forward, adding that a future source of renewable fuel for the airline industry may be algae produced in places like sewage treatment farms.
But critics say biofuels, which are currently mainly produced from traditional food crops, may help drive up food prices. Some scientists have also expressed concern that farmers in developing countries may clear forests to grow profitable energy crops, ultimately releasing more greenhouse-gases than continuing to rely on fossil fuels.
See full story