Low-cost, high-quality oils and proteins from “super trees” growing on degraded agricultural land
This is pongamia.
Terviva converts marginal land like this…
…into productive fields of regenerative pongamia.
Once a minor Asian crop, pongamia is poised for global expansion due to two breakthroughs by Terviva:
Tree genetics improvement — high, consistent bean yields on trees grown in a variety of conditions
Processing beans on existing oilseed infrastructure — processing technology we have developed for pongamia beans allows us to make edible animal feed and food products; our processing costs are thus spread across more products, enabling lower COGS for each
Scaling pongamia around the world
Case study
Florida (USA)
This has long been the home of America’s citrus industry, but in the past couple decades, disease and climate have wreaked havoc on the region’s orange and grapefruit trees.
Forward-thinking farmers have been planting Terviva’s low maintenance and disease-resistant pongamia trees, which can be mechanically harvested. They are supported by Terviva’s nearby Tree R&D “center of excellence” and pongamia nursery.
See also: Associated Press July 2024 article “Pongamia trees grow where citrus once flourished”
Case study
Queensland (Australia)
In the heart of Australia’s mining country, pongamia is addressing three challenges: decarbonizing mining operations, regenerating degraded or buffer land, and meeting the critical need for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) feedstock.
In 2025, Terviva and partners Idemitsu Kosan and Stanmore Resources announced the official kickoff of a project planting Terviva’s elite cultivars of pongamia on buffer land adjacent to the South Walker Creek mine. The efforts are supported by Terviva’s research orchard in nearby Emerald.
See also: Terviva launch video, Idemitsu press release (forthcoming)
Case study
India
Where pongamia has grown native for centuries, Terviva has built a pioneering transparent and ethical supply chain for “wild harvest” / agroforestry collection of pongamia beans.
Particularly emphasizing women leaders in rural and indigenous communities, Terviva’s supply chain has created a valuable new form of economic development and diversification.
Additionally, Terviva’s Mumbai office drives our commercial and product/processing activities in the country and region.
Case study
Hawaii (USA)
On Oahu’s North Shore, Terviva’s pongamia trees grow on former pineapple and sugarcane fields where the commercialization of those crops severely degraded the land and/or proved too resource-intensive to be economically viable.
When American snack bar maker Aloha was looking for Hawaii-grown, sustainable ingredients for its products, Ponova® oil (edible pongamia oil) from local trees was the perfect fit. Ponova® has featured as a key, on-label attribute on multiple best-selling Aloha SKUs, including new product launches in consecutive years 2023-2025.
In-progress projects
Case study
Central America
Details forthcoming…
Case study
South America
Details forthcoming…
Case study
Southeast Asia
Details forthcoming…