The Deputy Director for Food Security at Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries toured Guardian Energy in Minnesota this week as part of a five-day visit to learn about the state’s agriculture industry hosted by the Minnesota Corn Growers Association. During the tour, Kimihiko Eura learned about incoming grain handling, grain storage, liquefaction, fermentation, distillation, dried distillers grains (DDGs), …
Commerce Dept Finds Unfairly Subsidized Biodiesel Exports
The preliminary determination of the U.S. Department of Commerce is that exporters of biodiesel from Argentina and Indonesia did receive “countervailable subsidies” and may allow for collection of retroactive duties. “The U.S. values its relationships with Argentina and Indonesia, but even friendly nations must play by the rules,” said Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. The department determined that both countries subsidized …
Brazil Corn Ethanol Plant Starts Production
FS Bioenergia, Brazil’s first large-scale corn ethanol production facility, is officially in production. The plant, located in Lucas do Rio Verde, Mato Grosso, is the result of an international collaboration between Brazilian agribusiness Fiagril and U.S.-based Summit Agricultural Group headquartered in Alden, Iowa. In its initial phase of operations, FS Bioenergia will annually process 22 million bushels of corn and …
Novozymes Brings Advanced Enzymes to European Ethanol Market
Novozymes has launched Spirizyme® 2.0 T and Spirizyme Ultra T glucoamylase enzymes with trehalase for the European ethanol market. The products, which are part of the Spirizyme T Portfolio to deliver increased yield and sugar conversion, were introduced earlier this year for the U.S. market. Trehalose, a type of sugar that is normally left unfermented in a standard ethanol plant, …
New Study Shows RFS Works for Economy
A new economic modeling study being published in the American Journal of Agricultural Economics finds that the “Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) has substantially benefited the U.S. economy by lowering gasoline and crude oil prices, cutting crude oil imports, adding value to U.S.-produced agricultural commodities, and reducing U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.” “The results confirm that the current RFS program considerably …
Ethanol Production Could Outpace Demand
A new report forecasts ethanol production is on pace to exceed domestic and export demand as producers continue to reinvest last year’s profits into facilities and additional production capacity. The report from CoBank on “Ethanol’s Growth Path: Output and Export Uncertainties Both Rising” outlines predicts that the ethanol market will soon face worsening profit margins, which could potentially push the …
Siouxland Ethanol Receives Grassroots Award
The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) presented this year’s Grassroots Award to Siouxland Ethanol LLC of Jackson, Nebraska. The award is given annually “to a devoted individual or organization that often perform “behind the scenes” to advance the cause of ethanol.” Siouxland Ethanol LLC was presented with this year’s award by Liz Bunkers, ACE director of member and industry relations, …
Durante Honored With Merle Anderson Award
Doug Durante, executive director of the Clean Fuels Development Coalition was presented with he American Coalition for Ethanol’s (ACE) most prestigious award during the 30th annual conference this week in Omaha. The Merle Anderson Award is named after the founder of ACE and is given to individuals who “display unmatched support and dedication to ACE and the domestic ethanol industry.” …
Tested, Proven and Driven – Ethanol Moving Forward
The American Coalition for Ethanol celebrated its 30th annual conference this week by highlighting recent victories for the industry and embracing the challenges moving forward. “We’re as close as we’ve ever been to getting Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) relief for E15 and higher ethanol blends thanks to bipartisan leadership in Congress and a new way of thinking at EPA,” ACE …
The Hill Op-Ed: RFS Helps US Economy
In an op-ed for The Hill today, Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Bob Dinneen questions why EPA’s 2018 renewable fuel standard (RFS) blending requirements proposal includes a request for public comments on “whether the proposed biofuel volumes would somehow cause “severe harm” to the economy.” “Of course, suggesting that ethanol and the RFS pose any “harm” at all—“severe” …