Jose Graziano da Silva, the new director general of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), recently argued that the use of corn to make ethanol in the U.S. is playing a noticeable factor in raising grain prices worldwide. “We have been looking into the details of the price, and nowadays there is no doubt that the use of maize in the U.S. for biofuels affects the prices of maize all over the world,” Graziano da Silva said. Graziano da Silva argues that “food security comes first, that is the rule.” The FAO head says the organization’s current position is that cereals should not be used for biofuel production.

Ethanol production from sugar cane in Brazil accounts for only 3 % of land use, and does not currently affect the price of sugar on international markets, according to the director general of the FAO.

The Brazilian Development Bank announced earlier this month a program to finance low cost loans for farmers of sugar cane and producers of ethanol. The country is seeking to boost biofuel production in the wake of ethanol tariffs and subsidies expiring in the US.

To read more, click here.

Source. Bloomberg.com

To read more, click here.

Source: The Advocate

Stevia has enjoyed a meteoric rise in popularity on the global stage over the past four years. Companies like GLG Life Tech Corp, Stevia Corp, Imperial Sugar Company, PureCircle and S&W Seed Company are all involved on some or all levels of stevia growth, manufacturing, and processing.

To read more, click here.

Source: Bloomberg Businessweek

USTR will allocate this increase among supplying countries and customs areas. This action is being taken after a determination that additional supplies of refined sugar are necessary to reduce risks associated with adverse weather and other supply disruptions. Harvest of the FY 2012 sugar beet crop is significantly slower to date than during several of the previous fiscal years. USDA reported that it will closely monitor stocks, consumption, imports and all sugar market and program variables on an ongoing basis.

On August 5, 2010, USDA established the FY 2011 (October 1, 2010 – September 30, 2011) refined sugar TRQ at an aggregate quantity of 99,111 MTRV, of which 20,344 MTRV, was refined sugar other than specialty sugar. On August 17, 2010, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) allocated this refined sugar as follows: 10,300 MTRV to Canada; 2,954 MTRV to Mexico; and 7,090 MTRV to be administered on a first-come, first-served basis. On August 2, 2011, the Secretary of Agriculture increased the FY 2011 specialty sugar TRQ by 9,072 MTRV, resulting in an FY 2011 specialty sugar TRQ to 87,839 MTRV, and an FY 2011 refined sugar TRQ to 108,183 MTRV.

“We have an incredible opportunity to create thousands of new jobs and drive economic development in rural communities across America by continuing to build the framework for a competitively-priced, American-made biofuels industry,” said Vilsack. “Over the past two years, USDA has worked to help our nation develop a national biofuels economy that continues to help us out-innovate and out-compete the rest of the world while moving our nation toward a clean energy economy.”

The grants announced by Vilsack in Seattle came through USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The projects will address needs across regional supply chains and will complement existing bioenergy efforts across government, academia, and the private sector.

A team of researchers led by Louisiana State University received $17.2 million of the $136 million to enable the regular production of biomass for economically viable conversion using existing refinery infrastructure. Through new and existing industrial partnerships, this project will use energy cane and sorghum to help reinvigorate the Louisiana sugar and chemical industries.

USDA made these awards through its Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI). AFRI’s sustainable bioenergy challenge area targets the development of regional systems for the sustainable production of bioenergy and biobased products that contribute significantly to reducing dependence on foreign oil; have net positive social, environmental, and rural economic impacts; and are compatible with existing agricultural systems. All grants are awarded over a period of five years, with continued funding contingent on annual project success.

Renewable energy production is a key to sustainable economic development in rural America, and USDA through renewable energy programs authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill is working to escalate the production of biofuels to meet the 2022 Federal Renewable Fuels standard goal.

Researchers have introduced a new approach that prioritizes a sustainable and responsible way of producing ethanol called the “midway” strategy. This innovative strategy involves producing the necessary biotechnology to increase biomass yield and ethanol production. Agricultural expansion will be further reduced by improving sugarcane management. This strategy will effectively minimize the impacts of sugarcane bioethanol production on biodiversity while synergistically protecting and regenerating rainforest.

According to Marcos Buckeridge, Professor of the University of Sao Paulo and Scientific Director of the Brazilian Bioethanol Science and Technology Laboratory, “Brazil is now in a privileged position because of its opportunity to introduce a new style of crop production with a much higher level of sustainability. The midway strategy should be applied not only for sugarcane, but for all crops.”

Successful implementation of the “midway” strategy will require three key components: scientific research to understand sugarcane biology and ecology, technological development of genetically improved sugarcane crops and production technologies, and creation of policies that support sustainable land management.

Buckeridge further notes that, because Brazil has a stable economy and is the world leader in sugarcane ethanol production, it is in an excellent position to implement the midway strategy.

The adoption of the new plastic is part of AT&T’s broader overall commitment to minimize its environmental impact. In March of 2010 the company announced its plans to slim down their accessory packaging; in 2010 and 2011, the company eliminated the use of over 500 tons of paper and plastic in that packaging.

Customers can expect to see the transition to the new packaging in stores and online starting October 2, 2011. The plastic will be used in packaging for AT&T-branded wireless accessories, which includes most device cases and power accessories.

“As a company we are committed to minimizing our own environmental impact, and we see the introduction of this plant-based plastic as an important step in the right direction,” said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president for devices, AT&T. “We are excited to be the first U.S. telecom company to use this plastic in our packaging and we hope other companies will join us in finding ways to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. We are actively working with our accessory suppliers to incorporate both less packaging and more sustainable plastic and paper.”

Prior advancements in AT&T’s efforts to reduce waste and minimize the overall environmental impact of accessory packaging include using soy and/or vegetable-based ink and recycled paperboard.

The storm is just the latest challenge facing the state’s sugar cane industry, which has an annual $2.5 billion economic impact on Louisiana with 20,000 jobs related to the sugar industry. This year’s crop alone is estimated to have a cash value of nearly $900 million.

“It’s a huge part of the economy of south Louisiana,” said Jim Simon of the American Sugar Cane League, “and as the sugar economy goes, so do many of the small towns across the sugar belt.”

Areas with good sugarcane growth – those areas that received more rainfall during the rather dry summer – withstood the storm to a greater degree than those areas with a shorter crop. There appears to be only minimal stalk breakage and winds were not high enough to shred the leaves. As flattened as it looks at the moment, sugar cane farmers believe most of the crop can still be harvested, as long as there are plenty of fair weather days in the coming two months. Already, some of the cane stalks are straightening themselves out, as they try to reach up towards the sunlight.

Farmers hope that growth will lead to minimal losses and a decent end to the season. Sugar cane harvesting is expected to begin at the end of September and stretch all the way into December.

Use of stevia is predicted to rise at an astonishing rate this year, taking the natural sweetener’s share of the total US sugars and sweeteners market from 1.8% in 2010 to 9.1% in 2011, according to Packaged Facts.

To read more, click here.

USDA said law allows the secretary of agriculture to permit sugar allocated under a given quota period to be entered in a previous or subsequent quota year period.

“This action is expected to reduce the TRQ shortfall and provide additional flexibility for U.S. refiners,” the USDA said.

“Emerging renewable jet fuel technologies have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions significantly, as sugarcane ethanol in Brazil has already proven,” said Arnaldo Vieira de Carvalho, leader of the IDB Sustainable Aviation Biofuels Initiative. “This study will examine the overall potential for sustainable, large-scale production of alternative jet fuels made from sugarcane.” Last month, the IDB announced a regional cooperation grant to help public and private institutions develop a sustainable biojet fuels industry. The Amyris study is the first to be financed under that grant.

The study will be led by ICONE, a research think-tank in Brazil with extensive experience in agriculture and biofuels analysis, and independently reviewed by WWF. Scheduled for completion in early 2012, the study will include a complete life cycle analysis of the emissions associated with Amyris’s renewable jet fuel, including indirect land use change and effects. In addition, the study will include benchmarking of cane-derived renewable jet fuel against major sustainability standards, including the Bonsucro, the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels and the IDB Biofuel Scorecard.

“Collaborative research into the cane-to-jet pathway is important for diversifying aviation’s fuel supplies, and also builds on the strong renewable energy cooperation established between the Unites States and Brazil,” said Boeing Vice President of Environment and Aviation Policy Billy Glover.“With aviation biofuel now approved for use in commercial jetliners, understanding and ensuring the sustainability of sources that can feed into region supply chains is critical and Brazil has a strong role to play there. This project also expands upon existing collaboration between Amyris, the State Government of Queensland, and Boeing.”

“Last month, ASTM International created a task force to establish product specifications for direct sugar-to-hydrocarbon renewable jet fuels, such as that being developed by Amyris. We are committed not only to delivering on the technical specifications for our jet fuel but also to ensuring that our renewable products are produced sustainably,” said John Melo, CEO of Amyris. “Our planet derives no benefit from a fuel that merely replaces current fossil fuels. This study will help us replace fossil fuels with a renewable jet fuel that surpasses both technical and sustainability criteria.”

“Participation in this important study is one more step for Embraer to support the development of sustainable biofuels for aviation,” said Guilherme de Almeida Freire, Embraer Director, Environmental Strategy and Technology. “Brazil is a rich source of biomass, and the maturation of this technology, based on sugarcane, reinforces the importance that the Nation gives to the sustainable growth of aviation.”

“Climate change is threatening biodiversity and the critical habitats of some the world’s most iconic species,” said Kevin Ogorzalek, Program Officer at World Wildlife Fund. “As renewable jet fuel production increases, it must be done in a transparent and sustainable way. We’re eager to contribute to this study as one part of a growing international effort to reduce the fast-growing emissions from aviation and protect the critical resources on which we all depend.”

“This landmark move underscores Dow’s commitment to invest for growth in high-value, innovation-rich sectors through strategic partnerships,” said Andrew N. Liveris, Dow’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “It also combines the strengths of two global companies, creating the unique combination of world-leading technology and renewable feedstocks to meet needs in an important, rapidly growing region of the world. This is right on strategy for Dow and supports our 2015 Sustainability goals.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Mitsui would become a 50% equity interest partner in Dow’s sugar cane growing operation in Santa Vitória, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The initial scope of the joint venture includes production of sugar cane-derived ethanol for use as a renewable feedstock source, bringing new, biomass-based feedstocks to Dow while diversifying the Company’s raw material streams from traditional fossil fuels. When complete, Dow and Mitsui will have the world’s largest integrated facility for the production of biopolymers made from renewable, sugar-cane derived ethanol. The project aligns with Dow’s goal of developing low carbon solutions to meet the world’s pressing energy and climate change challenges.

Once fully operational, this platform will be back-integrated into renewable sugar cane, enabling environmentally sustainable production of high performance plastics with a reduced carbon footprint. Biopolymers produced at this facility will be a green alternative and drop-in replacement for the high-performance flexible packaging, hygiene and medical markets, offering customers the same performance attributes with a more sustainable environmental profile.

“We are proud to strengthen and grow our already-strong partnership with Dow, a company with a proven track record of innovation and market-leading brands,” said Masami Iijima, Mitsui’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “This venture advances Mitsui’s goal to contribute to industry and society by securing a stable supply of renewable resources and providing sustainable solutions from those resources.”

The first phase of the project includes the construction of a new sugarcane-to-ethanol production facility in Santa Vitória. Construction is expected to commence in the third quarter of 2011.

“We are invigorated now more than ever about the potential for Dow’s sustainable chemistries in this growth economy,” said Pedro Suarez, President of Dow Latin America. “With Mitsui, we will be fortifying our already strong base for advancing renewable materials, as well as enhancing the reputations of Dow and Brazil as worldwide leaders for a green economy.”

The transaction is expected to close before the end of 2011, pending the receipt of certain regulatory approvals. Financial details are not being disclosed.