Various U.S. biotechnology companies pursuing more sustainable sources for renewable products were among the highlights at the 2009 Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy, held from November 8 to 11 in Honolulu, Hawaii. In most cases, these companies are working on converting sugarcane into low carbon biofuels such as biogasoline and biobutanol. 
 
According to the Chief Representative for North America for the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA), Joel Velasco, even before the promises of biotechnology companies to revolutionize the sugarcane industry, “Brazilian cane ethanol is the only liquid biofuel that meets U.S. federal mandates (Renewable Fuel Standard, RFS) and state regulations, such as California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS).”

Velasco spoke during a session on commercialization of advanced biofuels with Patrick Gruber, CEO of Gevo, a leading technology development company that ferments sugar or starch into butanol, and Harrison Dillon of Solazyme, which has a contract with the Pentagon to produce diesel from sugar and other prime sources. Various executives in attendance agreed that cane is an ideal crop for the development of second and third generation technologies, because of its high efficiency in converting sunlight, CO2 and water into simple sugars, the most basic form of energy. All speakers emphasized that sugarcane biofuels offer a significant reduction in carbon emissions.
 
The event was organized by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), the largest organization in the biotech industry, representing over 1,200 members. Velasco, who also took part in a breakout session on Chinese, Brazilian and U.S. experiences with biofuels, emphasized the key elements needed to create a successful biofuels market: appropriate biomass, infrastructure and competitive prices.
 
UNICA´s presence at the event was made possible by the UNICA/Apex-Brasil project, a partnership launched in January of 2008 between the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association and the Brazilian Export Promotion Agency, within the Federal Development, Industry and International Trade Ministry. The main objective of the partnership is to promote Brazilian sugarcane ethanol throughout the world as a clean, renewable energy source.

To download Joel Velasco´s “Making Gasoline the Alternative Fuel Brazilian Biofuels Policy: Lessons for Energy Security”, click here.

To download Joel Velasco´s “From Carbohydrates to Hydrocarbons Commercializing Brazilian Sugarcane Biofuels” presentation, click here.