Advanced BioFuels USA

(U.S. Grains Council/Ethanol Producer Magazine)  ..Countries shared their experiences with implementing biofuels policy and discussed how best to support the development and implementation of ethanol policies with a role for trade. Recognized scientists and ethanol experts demonstrated how ethanol use in transportation fuels improves air quality, extends the current fuel supply and reduces greenhouse gas emissions leading to increased human health benefits. The Summit sparked strong interaction between representatives from all nations in attendance and participants expressed their appreciation for the usefulness of informational exchange across such a diverse group.

Included as part of the Summit activity were three pre-conference tours in which participants travelled through the Midwest to see firsthand ethanol production from the field to the pump and to learn about transportation infrastructure, retail ethanol sales and consumer acceptance in the United States. These reverse missions are a great opportunity for new potential partners to understand the full value chain of U.S. ethanol production as they seek to develop their own policies and industries.

Building a successful ethanol industry requires having the proper supporting policies in place. Policy is the critical factor in expanding the global use of ethanol and in creating opportunities for U.S. ethanol exports. The Summit furthered that conversation and further aligned ministries and industries throughout the region as they develop or expand their approaches to using ethanol.

The Summit created a platform for more robust engagement with countries like Brazil, Mexico, Peru, Colombia and Canada, all countries in which the Council already has programs.

Additionally, seven countries have engaged in follow-up with the United States to potentially implement their own ethanol programs, including Bolivia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. Bolivia announced an E10 mandate during a visit by the Council following ESOTA, while talks with Ecuador have been strengthened as a direct result of ESOTA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service’s inclusion of a Cochran Program focused on ethanol for Ecuadorian fellows.

As a direct result of the Summit, the Council also strengthened relationships and collaboration with key ministry officials from Brazil, useful in engaging with Brazilians as they continue to develop their new biofuels policy, RenovaBio, and with Mexico as they explore nationwide use of E10.

The returns on investment of this event are yet to be determined in terms of gallons exported and total sales. Globally, the Western Hemisphere is currently the largest destination market for U.S. ethanol, totaling $1.7 billion and 3.5 billion liters of exports, currently accounting for about 70 percent of total U.S. ethanol exports.  READ MORE

Event encourages biofuels program development in Central America (Ethanol Producer Magazine)

Colombian biofuels production hit by cheaper US imports (Platts)

Excerpt from Ethanol Producer Magazine:  A recent seminar in Costa Rica planted seeds for further regional cooperation and biofuels policy development throughout Central America.

The Council organized the one-day seminar, Cultivando Energia (Cultivating Energy), in San Jose, Costa Rica, in late September to increase awareness among key government officials and industry about the economic, environmental and technical benefits of using ethanol in fuel. Forty-eight attendees from Central America and the Dominican Republic attended the event.

“This regional seminar allowed the Council and its partners to provide valuable information to policy makers and local industry,” said Juan Sebastian Diaz, USGC Latin America regional ethanol consultant. “This conference also provided a space to discuss common issues in the region related to the implementation and represented a great opportunity to develop synergies between countries to establish biofuels programs in the region.”

As the host country, Costa Rican representatives delivered details of its biofuels program, planned to start by the second half of 2019. Costa Rica is considered one of the world’s “greenest” countries and has committed to an ambitious goal of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 44 percent by 2030.

Government officials consider ethanol blending one of the most effective pathways for achieving this commitment, and the speakers during the seminar stressed their arguments confirming this position. The Council is strongly supporting this initiative and has engaged with Costa Rican government officials to expedite the adoption of blends above 10 percent with consideration for ethanol imports.

Other topics covered at the event included supply chain technical requirements, car performance under different ethanol blends and discussions of ethanol policies throughout Latin America. Outside of formal presentations, the seminar also allowed attendees to network and share their own experiences with biofuels policy development.  READ MORE