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ETHANOL PRESENTS “EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITY” TO CHANGE ENERGY
MATRIX, SAYS FORMER BRAZILIAN MINISTER

Latin America is being presented with an “extraordinary opportunity” to change the international energy matrix, according to Co-Chairman of the Inter-American Ethanol Commission, Roberto Rodrigues. The former Brazilian agriculture minister said ethanol as a fuel also presents an opportunity to mitigate global warming while generating wealth in the poorest countries, creating jobs and bringing about a paradigm shift in agriculture.

It is an excellent opportunity for Latin America to make a significant contribution in bringing about a better world, the former Brazilian minister declared in delivering his keynote address entitled, “Facing Energy Security in the Americas through Agroenergy Sources,” during the thirtieth conference in the Lecture Series of the Americas at the Organization of American States’ (OAS) historic Hall of the Americas.

Rodrigues called for greater use of ethanol, saying it represents an increasingly significant, environmentally-sound, sustainable and job-creating shift.” He cited among ethanol’s advantages the fact that “there are jobs in cane farming but not in extracting oil.”

OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza, meanwhile, welcomed the guest of honor and the others attending the Lecture, stressing how any discussion of biofuels and development of agro-energy in general must make some reference to Roberto Rodrigues, given his “breadth of knowledge on agricultural issues.” Permanent Council Chairman Ambassador Reynaldo Cuadros Anaya of Bolivia introduced Rodrigues to those gathered for the event.

Rodrigues, who also chairs the Agrobusiness Council of the São Paulo Federation of Industries, provided statistics projecting that in seven or eight years the portion of cane that will be used to produce ethanol will increase to 51%, while the portion for sugar will fall to 32%, with 16% for bioelectricity. These figures compare to last year’s figures of 56% of cane for sugar, with 42% for ethanol.

Also coordinator of the Getúlio Vargas Foundation’s Agrobusiness Center and a professor of rural economics at the State University of São Paulo, Rodrigues said ethanol’s advantage is based on three energy components of the sugar cane: the juice from which ethanol is produced; the leaves; and the husk, from which ethanol or electricity can be produced.

In his keynote address, Rodrigues challenged what termed the “regrettable lie” and “myth” underlying arguments against ethanol, including that planting sugar cane to produce ethanol will contribute to the destruction of the Amazon rainforest. “We don’t need to go to the Amazon because there is sufficient land space close to the export centers, he argued. Besides, he said, that is “logistically stupid” as conditions in the Amazon are not conducive to growing sugar cane to maturity.

Rodrigues also said it was not true that food shortage will stem from the focus on biofuels. “Such an idea has no merit,” he said. There is [enough] land for everything, he added, citing the example of Brazil where 5% of cultivated land is devoted to ethanol. He noted that this year so far has seen record production of ethanol, sugar cane, grain, milk, forestry products and other agricultural products “because ethanol and food are not in competition in Brazil. To the contrary, there is synergy.” As well, he cited several examples of the efficient use of ethanol in his own country, Brazil, including with “flex cars” that can run on gasoline, ethanol or electricity.

Irene Klinger, Director of the OAS Department of International Affairs, moderated a question-and-answer session that followed Rodrigues’ lecture. She said the topic was a very timely one as Member States prepare for the next Summit of the Americas, to be held in Trinidad and Tobago in April 2009, with energy security among the central theme’s issues.

Organized by the OAS Secretariat for External Relations’ Department of International Affairs, the Lecture Series of the Americas was established by the Organization’s Permanent Council to promote democratic principles and values in the countries of the hemisphere.

Internationally renowned speakers are invited to address key issues such as democracy, human rights, social development, hemispheric security and the fight against poverty. The conference was made possible thanks to financial contributions from Peru’s San Martin de Porres University and the government of the People’s Republic of China.

Reference: E-415/08