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), …
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 …
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” …
Ethanol and Motorcycles Mix at Sturgis Rally
At the 2017 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally last week, the Renewable Fuels Association stepped up its efforts to provide motorcycle owners with the facts about the use of ethanol their engines – mainly that ten percent ethanol is approved by every major motorcycle manufacturer. This was ninth year for the ethanol sponsorship at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip Campground and it just …
RFA Chairman Pumps Fuel for Bikers
Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) chairman Mick Henderson was a long way from his old Kentucky home this week, pumping 93 octane 10 percent ethanol fuel for bikers at the Buffalo Chip Campground for the 77th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, SD. “Back in Kentucky you might say that bourbon is the place to put your corn, but we drink the …
Remembering the Original RFS
Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Bob Dinneen keeps a signed copy of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which included the original Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), hanging on the wall of his office as a reminder of how far the industry has come since then. It was signed 12 years ago this week by President George W. Bush …
RFA Sponsors Charitable Legends Ride
The Sturgis Buffalo Chip Legends Ride celebrated 10 years of getting bikers together for a ride in the Black Hills while supporting the Black Hills Special Olympics and other charities, donating nearly half a million dollars in the past decade. The Renewable Fuels Association helped to sponsor this year’s anniversary ride, and also donated $500 of free fuel to Black …