The FIFA World Cup 2014 is underway in Brazil and this year’s event features several renewable energy and sustainable measures never before seen during the event. Sugar Cane Industry Association (UNICA) is supplying the governing body of the football fleet (known as soccer to those living in the U.S.) with ethanol. Flex-fuel cars from Hyundai, Model HB20 Edition FIFA World …
Brazilian Ethanol Sales Break Record
Domestic ethanol sales in Brazil have reached an all-time high according to data compiled through the end of March for the 2013/2014 harvest. The total sales volume reached 23.07 billion liters, as compared to 18.68 liters in the same 2012/2013 harvest period. In Brazil, the majority of the ethanol is hydrous ethanol, which saw a 16.27 percent growth to 13.70 …
PAISS Program to Help Brazilian Sugarcane Industry
The National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) and the Funding of Innovation and Research (FINEP) have announced a new program to encourage agricultural innovation for the Brazilian sugarcane industry. The goal of PAISS is to spur innovation and research that achieves gains in increasing productivity while lowering production costs. The PAISS complements the similar plan launched by BNDES …
UNICA Weighs In On EPA’s 2014 Proposed Rules
UNICA will be weighing in today during the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) public hearing on their 2014 proposed rules for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Leticia Phillips, the North American representative for the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA), notes that the organization believes the proposed renewable fuels volumes “pulls the rug from underneath the advanced biofuels industry.” Phillips says UNICA …
South Africa Adopts Biofuels Mandate
The Department of Energy of South Africa has announced that beginning October 1 2015, all gasoline and diesel sold in the country will include the addition of biofuels. The mandatory blending regulations released by the Department of Energy of South Africa in August 2012, allows mixing of B5 biodiesel and between E2 and E10 for gasoline, ie between 2 percent …
Ethanol – The Complete Fuel Wins Awards
The Union of the Industry of Cane Sugar Association’s (UNICA) “Ethanol – The Complete Fuel” has won four awards including the Sponsor of the Year for 2013 during the 17th Annual Brazilian Association Rural Marketing and Agribusiness. The country-wide campaign was designed to educate consumers about the benefits of ethanol. The association has also called upon the government to assist …
UNICA Asks Gov’t to Educate Country About Ethanol
Brazil’s sugar cane growers are asking for some help from that country’s government to educate the public about ethanol. Elizabeth Farina, the President of the Union of the Industry of Cane Sugar Association (UNICA), said the industry needs to overcome prejudices caused by inadequate public policies and interference in the fuel market that hurts ethanol’s competitiveness. To that end, the …
Why Sugarcane Ethanol is Essential to RFS
There is a significant amount of attention being paid to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) but one area that hasn’t been talked about much is the role of sugarcane ethanol in the RFS. To learn more, I spoke with Leticia Phillips the representative for North America with UNICA – the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association. She said that under the RFS, …
Brazilian Biofuel Trade Mission
A first-of-its-kind joint trade mission to Brazil has been scheduled to “improve and enhance biofuels trade by matching businesses seeking greater trade opportunities in ethanol and other biofuels as well as green technology designed to expand and enhance biofuel production.” Approximately 15 companies will be selected for the mission, which is the product of a partnership between the Renewable Fuels …
UnicaData Goes Live Providing Cane Industry Data
The Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) has unveiled new industry data and statistics. UnicaData is a customizable tool designed to provide detailed industry information focused on the cane industry in Brazil. The free data is derived from third party institutions and features information on areas such as: Sugarcane harvest Quality of harvested cane Harvest projections Sugarcane production and processing …