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. Leer más »

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. Leer más »

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. Leer más »

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Reuters) – It’s corn planting time in the U.S. Plains, and that means Kansas corn farmer Merl “Buck” Rexford is worrying about the weather — and hoping there is enough water.

Rexford plans to start seeding his 7,000 acres near Meade, Kansas, this week and he is relishing a recent heavy snow storm that dropped several inches of much-needed moisture.

Like corn farmers throughout the United States, Rexford hopes to grow a healthy crop yielding more than 150 bushels an acre this year. Much of his crop will wind up at a nearby ethanol plant.

And that puts the 65-year-old Rexford at the center of a bitter divide over biofuels, particularly corn ethanol. Leer más »

Impacts of Crops on Land, Environment and Society
Volume 2/Palms, Cotton, Corn and Jatropha
Biofuel Watch Center – NGO Repórter Brasil
Support: Solidaridad, Doen Foundation, CordaidÂ

Executive Summary

Deforestation in Amazon and Cerrado – the Brazilian savanna –, contamination by pesticides, threats to food sovereignty of small farmers and income and land concentration are some of the impacts caused by the expansion of crops that can be used to the production of biodiesel in Brazil. In “Brazil of Biofuels – Palms, Cotton, Corn and Jatropha – 2008”, NGO Repórter Brasil reports on the expansion projects of crops, such as oil palm, in the Amazon, and cotton, in the Cerrado areas of Midwest and Northeast regions. Leer más »

It seeks to generate 4.500 employments in Castile and León.Â

It wants to achieve energy and raw material sales of 600 and 400M€ per year. Ical/ Valladolid.

The Bioenergy Plan of Castile and León 2008-2020 foresees investments for the value of 1.300 million Euro, to generate 4.500 employments and to reach at the end of the period an annual commercialization of raw materials for the generation of this type of energy of 400 millions and the sale of 600 millions per year of finished products (electricity, heat and biofuel). Leer más »

Brazilian ethanol would win spaces with Obama.Â

Due to the sympathy that Barack Obama has shown for the environmental causes, United States can become a sponsor of the renewable energy.Â

Among the commitments of Obama is the reduction in 80% of the carbon emissions toward the year 2050. Leer más »

The Ministry of Agriculture of USA disclosed the offer and demand of grains report. FORECAST. The offer of Argentine corn will be of 16,5 million tons. Â

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) divulged the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates, in which it evaluated a world stock/consume relationship 10% bigger to the one projected in December. Leer más »

The fair achieved the support of San Lorenzo’s Chamber.Â

It will be held from April 3rd to 5th and the prices of the stands didn’t raise. It is expected to gather more than 120 companies and to be a thermometer of the cord activity.Â

Puerto San Martin has already set date for the fourth edition of the Expopuerto, the most important party in the area, where the small, medium and big industries that integrate the productive chain, show their potential. The event will held from the 3rd to 5th of April in the Parque Linda Vista. Leer más »

In the Fair of Detroit the presentation of hybrid and electrical vehicles was the tendency marked by the companies before an adverse economic panorama.Â

The vice-president and general manager of Toyota Bob Carter presents the Toyota Prius , a gas-electrical hybrid of third generation. Picture: EFEÂ

DETROIT, (AFP). – The electric and hybrid vehicles continue encouraging the recovery hope of the automotive market in crisis times. It is for that reason that the makers multiply announcements and reveal prototypes to seduce the public in the fair of Detroit with numerous prototypes of big manufacturers as Daimler, Toyota or General Motors that respond to the climatic concerns and the high price of the fuels. Leer más »