“The big race is for the corn” said Julio Ferrarotti.

Throughout the world, researchers are seeking plants better adapted to stress. In the Biotech Forum, which will take place in Rosario on June 18 and 19, sponsored by Infocampo, will be presented the degree of progress that there is for the crops to have better performance in less favorable situations.

“All lines of work related to heat stress, drought, cold, floods, are
related to climate change, and in this sense what we are going to hear in
the forum concerns to the progress in developed countries, in emerging ones, and, of course, in Argentina.” says Julio Ferrarotti, organizer with Pablo Adreani (Agripac).

- What is being done in the world in terms of adaptation to drought?

-At both private and public levels, there is much activity in the world in
this issue. In the United States, the European Union, Japan, Australia,
Brazil and Argentina there is aimed research. In our country, the station
Obispo Colombres, in Tucumán, has an event for soybean that is at
deregulation in the National Commission of Biotechnology, and Bioceres is
also working with the Universidad Nacional del Litoral.

- What mechanisms are involved in the adaptation of crops to water stress situations?

There are several strategies that can be amplified genes or combined genes
of amplified expression, which regulate defense mechanisms against drought, or it may be the introduction of inedit mechanisms, present in xerófitas species (adapted to dry climates) that are not present in cultivated
species. Mechanisms are linked to stomatal closure, osmotic regulation, cell
tolerance to plasmólisis, etcetera.

In legume we are working on the efficiency of biological nitrogen fixation,
as it has been seen that a plant in a better nutritional status supports
stress better. Ultimately, however, all lines are aimed at improving
efficiency in water use, especially in a scene where the drought seems to be
more frequent.

- What degree of progress is there?

Already, there are different announcements. In the United States have been
shown plants to drought conditions compared to normal plants, and the
positive effects are able to be seen of these transformed plants. Also, the
Biotechnology Institute of Rosario is working on the issue of water shortage
and the photos I saw about the experiments are more than auspicious.

- What are the crops that are of most interest and when they could be released for production?

-The great race is in the corn, which is a crop with high sensitivity to
drought. However, soy is being worked in this direction. The “when” is most
difficult to know because it depends on the regulatory processes.

-What would have happened in this campaign of 2008/09 if farmers were able to use crops better adapted to dry conditions?

-We would have had a lot less losses in performance. Perhaps much of the
production could have been saved.

Source: ASA / Infocampo

NEXTFUEL ARGENTINA opens www.biodirectorio.com, a space for agricultural and bioenergy companies to offer their products and services; a thematic search engine of www.biodiesel.com.ar, one of the most visited sites on spanish-language about biodiesel, agriculture and renewable energy and with an excellent position in major Internet search engines as Google and Yahoo.

We invite all companies of bioenergy and agriculture, as well as organizations, associations, conferences, congresses and exhibitions on these subjects, to register on our Bio-directory, suggesting the category with which they wish to be found in searches.

The Bio-directory also has an english version, advanced search, search by alphabetical order and by category.

Be among the first to join your company to Bio-directory!

info@biodirectorio.com

Biodirectorio.com is a venture of Nextfuel Argentina.

www.biodiesel.com.ar

Progress in the use of biofuels for power generation..

On May 20 the government announced the GENREÂ program (Renewable Generation), by which the state company ENARSA will call for tender the purchase of electricity produced through renewable energy.

The ceremony held at Government House in the presence of the President of the Nation-Cristina F. Kirchner, the Secretary of Energy Daniel Cameron, the Secretary General of the Presidency, Oscar Parrilli, the Governors of San Juan, Santiago del Estero, La Rioja, other officials and businessmen linked to the industry.

This program sets the purchase of 1000MW of electric power (which will be tendered) produced on the basis of various renewable energies, from this total: 500MW will be generated from wind power, 120 MW from waste, 100MW from biomass, 30MW from geothermal; 60 MW from small hydro electrics, 20 MW from solar, 20 MW from biogas and 150MW that will be generated based on biofuels (mainly biodiesel).

The president of CARBIO, Ing Fernando Pelaez, said, “The incorporation of renewable energies in the national matrix contribute to its diversification into non-fossil fuel dependence, as well as reduces the emission of greenhouse gas which results in an environmental benefit. ” He concluded that this measure will have a positive impact in the biofuels sector as it involves both a reactivation in the production of biodiesel, and the imminent need to resort to alternative sources of energy generation.

CARBIO is a nonprofit civil association whose main objective is the development and promotion of production and marketing of biofuels and its industry, to contribute actively to a sustainable and economic growth of the country. Is formed by companies of recognized prestige in Argentina that produce over 95% of biofuels in our country.

Courtesy Carbio for Nextfuel Argentina / www.biodiesel.com.ar

Developer. De Souza Meirelles is leading a project for expansion of ethanol.

Interview with brazilian producer Joao Carlos de Souza Meirelles.

His company, Frontera Norte, is working on the development of new agricultural zones, founded three cities and colonized one million hectares, mostly in Mato Grosso. Strong commitment to energy sugar cane.

Frontera Norte Ingeniería de Desarrollo Limitada is a company with over 30 years in the development of large zones of new agricultural frontiers of Brazil. “We did what we call in Portuguese, colonization.” said to “La Voz del Campo” the engineer Joao Carlos de Souza Meirelles, group member and former secretary of agriculture of the state of San Pablo. Coming from a family of Portuguese immigrants but with several generations among Brazilian farmers, De Souza Meirelles is one of the “fathers” of the raise of Brazil as the first world exporter of beef.

He also participated in Cordoba as a speaker in the first Argentine-Brazilian Corporate Bioenergy Summit.

He explained that the ventures of Frontera Norte opened opportunities for farmers in southern Brazil with large families who sought new lands for themselves and their children. “To give an example, we have developed rural activities in the state of Mato Grosso in more than one million hectares. These were virgin lands, we did projects, soil´s studies, nature conservation and build cities. I have built three cities on this new frontier, ” De Souza boastful.

- What economic units are we talking about?

Near the cities are small plots for vegetables, fruit farmers who supply urban areas, ranging from one to five hectares. Then, properties that can range from 120 to 250 acres, and ranging from 250 to 2500 or 5000 acres. And more distant from these towns, properties can have 25 thousand acres.

- And in the field of bioenergy, which projects has the company?

In the past two years we have developed a very important project for forming a cluster of bioenergy, it is not a factory or an industry, but a set of three large projects. Each one will plant 60 thousand hectares of sugar cane, a total of 180 thousand hectares. The are about 80 kilometers from one another so the total production reaches one billion liters of ethanol per year, and also electricity will be produced. The industrial part is final study, the construction will be contracted in 2010 and the first unit will start producing in 2012, the second in 2014 and third in 2016.

There is a concern about relative prices, with oil at $ 57 a barrel and soybeans to more than $ 400 a tonne in Chicago. How does this affect the business of biofuels?

-First, the relative prices of oil impacting the entire side of farming inputs (fertilizers and defense derivates). Secondly, for us to produce ethanol and electricity in Brazil, if oil is above the $ 40 we are absolutely competitive with ethanol. And all the experts in the world are convinced that the level of oil prices will stabilize in the coming years around the $ 60. And we are looking increasingly competitive, in five to 10 years we can be competitive with oil $35 or $ 37 a barrel.

In Argentina, and in Córdoba there is great expertise in producing agricultural commodities.

 What do you recommended to guide investment in agro-bio?

-It would be much pretension to make recommendations, but I would allow myself a reflection: what are the problems that farmers, were they from Argentina, Brazil or anywhere, have experienced in the past. 50 years ago we were not the most important thing in our economy because our countries lived of our productions of wheat, corn, meat, coffee. What happened? The generations that came imagined that only the industry was the national salvation and peasants, were considered the second in importance. The great revolution is changing the notion that we are not producers of raw materials but a very important part of the production chain. And if we do not organize the production chain, we are always going to be the absorbers of international prices. The other always win, and we, the producers, are compressed in terms of prices. But if we participate in the organization of the productive chain, of the concepts of price formation and increased productivity, we will be the most important in the chain.

Carlos Petroli

Source: La Voz/ Córdoba / Argentina

Following the publication of the EPA’s draft Regulatory Impact Analysis this week which includes proposed changes to the Renewable Fuels Standards Program, the Argentine Renewable Energies Chamber expressed both concerns and optimism regarding the possible effects this will have on the export-driven Argentine biodiesel industry.

Buenos Aires, May 8, 2009 – A recent study published by the Environmental Protection Agency of the United Status (EPA) is promoting biofuels that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by no less than 50% when compared to their fossil fuel counterparts. This same report classifies different categories of biofuels and concludes that soy-based biodiesel reduces GHG emissions by only 22%. If approved, the EPA’s proposal could cause grave harm to Argentine biodiesel producers, since more than 95% of Argentina’s biodiesel is made from soy oil. Additionally, the industry is export-driven and the United States is Argentina’s second largest export market after the European Union.

“The EPA’s analysis has the potential to drastically reduce Argentine biodiesel exports to the United States. It makes decisions regarding land use change for countries other than the U.S., yet doesn’t appear to take into consideration the positive effects of Argentina’s No-Till farming methods which plays a role in ensuring that Argentine soy biodiesel meets and exceeds the newly proposed stringent U.S. standards,” said Carlos St. James, president of the Chamber.

“While we fully understand and appreciate each nation’s right to establish standards and goals
for products consumed in their country, facts need to correct. We know that Argentine soybased
biodiesel is among the cleanest and environmentally-friendly options. This has been evidenced in scientific studies developed in the U.S. itself some years ago and more recently by our country’s National Institute of Agronomy Technology (INTA, by its initials in Spanish), both of which show reductions in GHG emissions that exceed 70%.”

The EPA has proposed a 60-day window in which the various industry actors can better understand the assumptions in the study and to offer counterproposals and corrections to this data. “Argentina has sound scientific elements to defend its position. We need to work internally with all industry interests along with relevant government agencies to present a common voice to ensure we are heard properly,” affirmed Lucas Trotz, the Chamber’s Manager. The Chamber is requesting a 40-day extension to the initial window, and various Chamber members will travel to Washington to participate in the July 9-11 workshop being organized by the EPA to discuss the draft.

The Chamber will also seek this extension as member of the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance, a global association whose members represent 65% of world biofuels production. Bliss Baker, Executive Director of GRFA from its headquarters in Toronto added, “Argentina, as one of the world’s largest biodiesel producers and exporters, will undoubtedly play a key role in ensuring that the industry continues to grow sustainably and we will work with them to present our organization’s point of view regarding the EPA study.”

St. James concludes, “We are confident that at the end of the day common sense, a frank and open dialogue, and the facts will carry the day. If not, the ideals of fair and open trade as espoused by the U.S. will take a step backward in the ongoing task of creating global markets.”

Turbulence in biofuels, according to the author, is no stranger to the international crisis and requires to lay the foundation to diversify the energy matrix, to grow in a rational manner, at sustained long-term rates, and without damaging the environment.

About a year ago, the nominal prices of soybeans, corn and wheat on international markets reach historic highs of USD600, USD300 and USD500 per tonne and the cost of food derived from these primary products increased at a staggering pace. At the same time, the barrel of crude oil was breaking historic threshold reaching USD149.-. This significant event took countless analysts to predict a world with crude oil at USD 200 a barrel.

The high prices of oilseeds, grains and petroleum, which were the largest in history in real terms, had immediate repercussions on the entire agro-production chain, increasing the costs of production, transport, distribution and consumer prices of food.

Not many analysts and recognized international organizations foresee a food crisis and attributed to the production of biofuels such increase in prices and a potential food crisis worldwide. Meanwhile, it was argued that Argentina, one of the world’s major food producer, either by internal policy or barriers to trade, was unable to increase the exportable supply of grains and food that would have otherwise helped to alleviate this “potential food crisis”.

The origins and causes of the crisis have left uncovered that the prices of grain and oilseed were mainly influenced by the high prices of oil and its derivatives, due to the productive dependence than those have on these, but at the same time, these commodities and particularly oil (or derivatives) were the reflection of a speculative bubble of unknown dimensions fueled by the abundant global liquidity, excessive transfer of risk in a context of low interest rates, the creation of sophisticated instruments for their coverage, not regulations or inadequate supervision of certain actors in the financial and commodities markets and the belief that economic cycles were a thing of the past.

This bubble was in correlation with a cheap dollar, validating the belief that expensive oil and food increasingly scarce had come to stay. Of course, one can not ignore that the Chinese eat more soy, that supply has grown less than the demand in specific cases and that climatic factors have affected agricultural production in different areas of the world. However, it has been clearly shown that biofuels in the ongoing development of its production, were only marginally affected in most cases. The dynamics of prices of primary products and commodities and, more importantly, the cost of oil and their derivatives, together with structural factors of supply and demand, are the drivers of these prices.

There has been discussion about the costs and benefits of producing biofuels. Reason indicates that the private and social benefits of such fuel is clearly positive. And its production can be sustainable in an environmental viewpoint, strengthening agricultural value chains, which generate more foreign exchange by exports, which reduce the energy dependency of fossil fuels (Brazil) in its overall energy balance is positive not necessarily diminish the food supply. However, if it is granted that biofuels entails net benefits to society as a whole, what should be the premisses and bases for a policy that favors the development of the sector in Argentina, with clear comparative advantages?

A sectoral policy must coordinate very well action between areas of state to avoid overlapping in the allocation of public resources and to recognize these factors are assumed: 1) Biofuels can not replace fossil fuels, but in the margin. 2) The development of the industry can not be subject to the vagaries of oil prices, as the experience of Brazilian long-term shows. 3) The world, the EU in particular, will be importers of biofuels in a few years and Argentina could provide large volumes of biodiesel (Europe to tariff subsidized exports by the U.S.). 4) The internal market must be served and promoted by improving the law 26,093 to to reach a development like Brazil. 5) The investments are capital intensive and require predictability as any investment, from any source. Again, improving the regulatory framework is indispensable.

6) The retentions over the exports of biofuels should have variable aliquots, but now, back to levels prior to 2008 (5% to 20% today). 7) SMEs should have a place in the chain, encouraging them to form partnerships to obtain leading-edge technology and overcome the typical problems of scale. 8-We must invest in the long term by promoting scientific and technical research for the development in the sector, in new technologies like crop improvement to diversify the sources of raw materials. 9) Channels should be created for long-term financing at competitive conditions, as the BNDES in Brazil does. 10) The expansion of agricultural zones should be planned and cultural practices monitored, to be sustainable on technical, economic, environmental and social.

Today’s biofuel industry sector is going through a period of turbulence and is not alien to the context of international crisis. Failure to provide the basis for achieving diversification of the energy matrix will make impossible to grow in a rational and sustained long-term rates, while our environment will suffer serious damage.

Claudio Molina. Executive Director of the Argentine Association of Biofuels and Hydrogen.

Source: Clarín Rural / Diario Clarín

Tunuyán, first municipality to participate in the Bioenergy Program for UNC.

Tunuyan, also participates in investigations of oilseed rape, topinambur and biomass.

The municipality supports the research and development of biodiesel with a monthly financial contribution. Besides is the only department involved in the Bioenergy Program for 2007-2010.

Tunuyan is the only department across the province participating in the Bioenergy Program 2007-2010. With a monthly financial contribution, the municipality of Tunuyan supports research and development of biodiesel.

In addition, the department hosted a major meeting between the president of the Bioenergy Program at the National University of Cuyo, Jorge E. Núñez Mc Leod, and the mayor Eduardo Giner.

In the extensive meeting they highlighted the importance of being the only department of the province which works with the relationship between society and the Bioenergy Program.

The Bioenergy Program of Universidad Nacional de Cuyo emerges as a necessity to fill a vacancy on expert knowledge in the area of biofuels.

This project has a horizon of 4 years and aims to achieve scientific and technological definition of biofuel cycles adapted to regional realities in the province of Mendoza.

The department is part of a list of entities that are merged with the goal of making the UNC self-sufficient in biofuels to 2010.

Tunuyan, also participates in investigations of oilseed rape, topinambur and biomass.

Source: MDZ/Mendoza/Argentina

Argentine-Brazilian corporate meeting on bioenergy in Córdoba.

Meeting with brazilian business representatives.

On Friday May 15 will be held in Cordoba first Argentine-Brazilian corporate meeting on bioenergy, in the auditorium of the Quorum Hotel on the way to the airport.

The meeting will be attended by specialists and will aim to discuss and explain the situation of the two countries on bioenergy, identify convergences and analyze the differences, to create a common platform for development in technology, regulations, standards and business agreements in order to act in an integrated way to achieve third markets.

“The importance of bioenergy has global reach,” said Oscar Gentili, president of the Chamber of Biofuels and Agrifood Producers of the Province of Córdoba (Cabiocor). He stressed that the meeting with Brazil is because the neighbor is doing a “very serious and deep” job in the subject.

According to organizers, the idea is to show that regardless of the regional and global crises, bioenergy business will be crucial, as also will be the strategic integration.

The head of the Civil Asociation Growth with Equity (and former Minister of Production in the Province), Adriana Nazario, said that “the goal is to reach conclusions on technologies, standards of production and that after this forum can provide to governments. We hope that within a year we will reach conclusions, ” he added.

Province potential. The organizers said that Cordoba was chosen as the meeting place because it is the province with the highest potential on agricultural production of Argentina and for a strategic approach:Â in the province there are already 10 plants in operation, nine plants under construction and three projects in advanced stages of planning.

Furthermore, because of the profile of entrepreneurs, farmers, and the scale of each plant, integrated on Cabiocor.

Activities. During the day, will be addressed experiences, both large and smallest investments in the sector, designed for auto consume or agricultural associations.

In addition, the act of incorporation of the Binacional Bioenergy Permanent Forum will be signed, said Nazario. The agreement will be subscribed by the Argentine-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce o f San Pablo and organizations interested in the proposal.

The agenda of the meeting includes:

Overview of bioenergy in Argentina and Brazil, Argentine and Brazilian experiences in bioenergy.

Presentation of the Energy City: Sao Carlos / Sao Paulo.

Market prospects of bioenergy, supply chains, regional integration.

Technology in both countries, regional integration.

Recipients. The meeting is aimed at all employers in the sector, farmers who are interested in iniciating processes of production of flour, oil and biofuels, either individually or collectively, to the industrial machinery and agricultural machinery for the manufacture of biodiesel and related.

Also to the officials, academics and researchers, members of the entities in the sector and all citizens concerned about the economic development of mankind, “because without energy there would be no progress and without progress there will be no peace,” reflected the organizing institutions .

How to participate?. The event is free – with limited quota – registration can be done online at www.produccioncordoba.com.ar +54 0351 – 153-030463.

Source: La Voz

Kyung Wook Hur, Vice Minister, Ministry of Strategy and Finance of Korea; and Luis Alberto Moreno, President, IDB, signed a memorandum of understanding to promote programs and projects that foster cooperation between them and, in particular, activities related to green growth, sustainable energy and climate change.

Photo: Árlette Pedraglio

The Export-Import Bank of Korea and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) will sign a an agreement to co-finance public and private sector projects worth as much as $2 billion in the next three years in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Kexim, as the Korean official export credit agency is known, and the IDB will work together to share information and identify and finance projects in infrastructure, information technology, trade finance and other areas. The accord will be signed in Medellín, Colombia, during the 50th Annual Meeting of the IDB’s Board of Governors.

Also during the annual meeting, the IDB and the Korean government, one of the Bank’s 48 member-countries, will also sign a cooperation agreement on Green Growth to develop and promote the use of renewable energy, efficient energy technologies and practices and carbon finance activities in Latin America and the Caribbean.

“We are honored by the presence in Medellín of Vice Minister Kyung Wook Hur and Kexim’s President Dong-soo Kim, whom on behalf of the Korean Government are making a special contribution to more sustainable economic growth in Latin America and the Caribbean by providing cutting-edge green technologies,”said IDB President Luis Alberto Moreno. “Kexim’s remarkable support with this large credit facility will allow the IDB to enhance its infrastructure financing during these difficult economic times”.

The accord also involves the creation of Green Growth Operations Steering Committee, formed by IDB officials, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance of Korea and members of Kexim. The committee will help in the formulation of policies that promote economic growth with environmental sustainability inn the region.

The IDB, the world’s largest regional development institution, and the Korean government are also strengthening its relations and partnering to provide advisory services in the areas of environmental protection, energy efficiency and sustainable finance.

Korea joined the IDB in 2005 as the Bank´s 47th member. The Asian nation has financed several IDB initiatives since then, including poverty alleviation programs and the development of small- and medium-sized enterprises in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The IDB, through its Office of Outreach and Partnerships (ORP) has facilitated the accomplishment of these partnerships that will provide additional financial and non-financial resources to its member countries and is now effectively becoming the platform for doing business in the region.

Source: BID

The jatropha (known as Barbados nut) and the biodiesel attract the interest of the markets of Asia and North America, through the promotion that two investigators carry out in United States on the plant and its yield.  Â

In October of 2008, a group of investigators visited the country interested in promoting the scientific investigation in the alternative energy field. Ryan Joon Hyeong Im and Ryan Choi wants to bring the scientific investigation on the jatropha and the biodiesel production to the country, at the same time of promoting Paraguay in the Asian and North American markets, explained Jerónimo Finestra, representative of the Association for scientific development of the Mercosur. Â

“It is to transform the country into a country of biodiesel production and another type of renewable energy. Through this association, they are promoting Paraguay among investors and in the universities of United States, to bring investigating teams”, Finestra commented.Â

In July of this year, Im will arrive to the country to continue with his scientific investigation on the jatropha. The novelty will be that he will carry out laboratory studies and will investigate on how to improve the yield per hectare of the plant.Â

Mr. Ryan Choi lived in Paraguay some time ago and today works, together with Im, in an investment fund in United States. This is how they began to investigate on the plant and discovered that in Paraguay the land is capable for the production.Â

The investigators want Paraguay to be, for the first time, energy salesperson, besides the electric one. For that, bonds are being settled with local authorities and foreign investigators, according to the representative of the association in the country.Â

“Mr. Im is the scientific brain of the project, while Mr. Ryan Choi is the economic boss of it”, Finestra specified.Â

Im and Choi are working in the investments acquisition for plantations of the Barbados nut, as well as for the installation of a factory to process it. For the factory and the plantations that can supply it is said that at first they will require of about 5 million dollars. For the investigation it could start with 100 thousand to 200 thousand dollars.Â

“The project is jatropha and its production in the Paraguay” it is the name of this enterprise. Another of the projects is, once consolidated in Paraguay, to launch the project to the Mercosur, but having the country as operation headquarters.Â

They chose the country because they consider that it has ideal lazy lands for this cultivation, there is enough manpower, and the lands are economically accessible, among other reasons.Â

Source: Ultima Hora