Current news, publications and resources exploring the future of biofuels. The forum is an independent reference source offering diverse analysis and information regarding the potential impacts of alternative energy.
Brazil and the United States are seeking to deepen a partnership in energy, especially by promoting biofuels and other alternatives to oil, US Deputy Secretary of Energy Jeffrey Kupfer said here Wednesday. But while ethanol biofuel was one of the main topics discussed with officials during his three-day visit to Brazil, there was no change to US import tariffs on Brazilian ethanol, he told reporters. Those tariffs will "run through to 2010," he said, following the US congress's decision to extend them by two years beyond their planned expiry date at the end of this year.
Brazil's sun, sand and ocean have long been a powerful lure. Those natural attractions are now competing for attention with the headlines generated by Petrobras, Brazil's national oil company. Whether it is their explosion into the ranks of the world's largest companies, their increasing global presence including the United States, or massive discoveries of oil and gas off the Brazilian coast, they are on a roll. Yet it is what has occurred in Brazilian waters that most deserves a closer look today. Brazil shows that when properly managed, development of offshore energy supplies with minimal environmental impact is possible. Its lessons learned and Petrobras' star turn are useful as the United States wades into an important debate over the possibility and potential for offshore oil and gas development on our Atlantic and Pacific coasts.
Brazil is likely to ask the World Trade Organization to open a blockbuster case into U.S. ethanol tariffs, a senior official said Wednesday, outlining the first possible dispute to arise as a result of this week's global trade talks collapse. Roberto Azevedo, Brazil's WTO ambassador, said there was a "strong possibility" that the Latin American country would make a formal complaint in September. Brazil would then be able to ask for the establishment of a WTO panel if a two-month consultation period with the United States fails to produce an agreement.
Brazil hopes to receive better export conditions for ethanol in exchange for its collaboration in the attempts to successfully conclude the Doha Round. Over the last several days, part of the Brazilian calculation in accepting the proposed trade package included the fact that the country would win quotas for its ethanol exports to the European market and a reduction in the American market tariffs.
From sugar cane fields to the garages of Brazil, doubts about biofuels in other parts of the world have not visibly slowed the process here. Marcus Jank, president of the Sugar Cane Producers Association believes ethanol from sugar cane brings environmental and economic benefits.
Paper written by Ricardo Ubiraci Sennes and Thais Narciso for the Brookings Institution event, “Brazil As An Economic Superpower? Understanding Brazil’s Changing Role In The Global Economy.”
Biofuels: Linking support to performance *NEW OECD, ITF Round Tables No. 138, March 2008
See pgs. 151-188 for the article by Edmar Fagundes de Almeida et al.: “The performance of Brazilian biofuels: An economic, environmental and social analysis.”
The intent of IDB’s Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Initiative (SECCI) is to support the LAC region in its urgent challenge to find economically and environmentally sound energy options. Its core objectives are to expand the development and use of renewable energy sources, energy efficiency technologies and practices, and carbon finance in the region, as well as to promote and finance climate change adaptation strategies that reduce the region’s climate vulnerability.
The USDA is an agency of the U.S. government that seeks to provide leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, and related issues based on sound public policy, the best available science, and efficient management. Excellent statistical reference sources.
EMBRAPA Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation
EMBRAPA is an agency of the Brazilian government. Its mission is to provide feasible solutions for the sustainable development of Brazilian agribusiness through knowledge and technology generation and transfer. Acesso em português
ICONE Institute for International Trade Negotiations
The Institute for International Trade Negotiations (ICONE) is an independent non-profit organization that has as its main objective the development of studies and applied research to support international negotiations, particularly in the area of agribusiness, thus contributing to a broader integration of Brazil into the world economy. Acesso em português
CARD conducts innovative public policy and economic research on agricultural, environmental, and food issues. CARD researchers develop and apply economic theory, quantitative methods, and interdisciplinary approaches to create relevant knowledge.
Purdue University’s BioEnergy Series highlights the work of agricultural researchers who concentrate on the issues surrounding energy independence in the United States drawing on international experience and examples.
The Agricultural Marketing Resource Center provides independent producers and processors with critical information by bringing together experts from three of the nation’s leading agricultural universities - Iowa State University, Kansas State University and the University of California - into a dynamic, electronically based center to create and present information about value-added agriculture.
Founded in 1996 with the main mission of implementing the energy generation from biomass through efficient processes, CENBIO is the Brazilian Reference Center on Biomass, Located at the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil, CENBIO works on research and development of technological, economic, social, environmental and institutional studies related to biomass conversion and use, together with other (national and international) groups, in the scientific, technological, industrial and agricultural sectors.
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is the national trade association for the U.S. ethanol industry. It promotes policies, regulations and research and development initiatives that will lead to the increased production and use of fuel ethanol.
The commission will serve to foster awareness of the benefits of renewable fuels to economies throughout the Americas. The commission will also contribute toward a framework for a rationalized and viable regional marketplace in ethanol, promoting the policy guidance necessary to spur both foreign and domestic investment in environmentally sound renewable fuel production and infrastructure.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) acts as energy policy advisor to 26 Member countries in their effort to ensure reliable, affordable and clean energy for their citizens. Founded during the oil crisis of 1973-74, the IEA’s initial role was to co-ordinate measures in times of oil supply emergencies. As energy markets have changed, so has the IEA.
The American Council On Renewable Energy, a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization in Washington, D.C., is focused on accelerating the adoption of renewable energy technologies into the mainstream of American society through work in convening, information publishing and communications.
The WCRE is a nonprofit and non-governmental globally working organization it is focused on developing policies and strategies for Renewable Energy. Its mission is to bring Renewable Energy into the mainstream of world economy and lifestyle.
Clean Edge tracks and analyzes clean-tech markets, trends, and opportunities and offers unparalleled insight and intelligence to its customers through an extensive network of partners and affiliates. It provides a variety of services including research and publishing, strategic consulting, and co-producing the annual Clean-Tech Investor Summit.
Marcos Jank on the Wilson Center's dialogue program
The President of UNICA and former President of the Brazilian research institution ICONE. Jank discusses the collaboration between Brazil and the U.S. and the future of ethanol, on the program titled: “Planting the Future: Brazil, America and Ethanol”
Brazil Institute
Woodrow Wilson Center
One Woodrow Wilson Plaza
1300 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20004-3027
Email: brazil@wilsoncenter.org
Tel: 202/691-4030
Woodrow
Wilson International Center for Scholars
Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
One Woodrow Wilson Plaza
1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20004-3027
T 202/691-4000
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