In Iowa, The American Seed Trade Association and the Biotechnology Industry Organization recently completed the first phase of an industry Accord to establish a framework for post-patent single trait seeds. The following reaction should be attributed to Chuck Larson, executive director of Americans for Choice and Competition in Agriculture: “After five years of tireless negotiations […]
In the UK, the environment minister has declared that all palm oil used in the government’s food and catering services must be sustainably sourced from 2015, following in the path of sustainability criteria for biofuels. The UK’s biofuel supply only includes 0.5% from palm oil and no biofuel is produced in the UK using palm […]
In Thailand, the energy ministry says that strict rules from the customs and excise departments are hindering ethanol exports, boosting the cost of trade and keeping the country from becoming the Southeast Asia ethanol hub that it desires to be. Domestic demand is only 1.3 million liters per day compared to 3.5 million liters of […]
In Brazil, Archer Consulting expects that the government’s move to boost ethanol blending back to 25% by June won’t do much to encourage investment in the local industry. Demand will increase by 449 million gallons annually with the higher blend. Ethanol production will remain stagnant until the government stops setting a fixed price for gasoline.
In Washington, D.C., a recent Huffington Post article slammed the presidential candidates’ failure to discuss climate change in the 3rd debate, which focused on foreign policy. Of biofuels, the article discussed a letter sent to the Obama administration from 200 scientists who are protesting the use of invasive grasses for advanced biofuel feedstock. According to […]
In the UK, Green Air Online is reporting that the UK government is equivocating on whether to include international aviation emissions, and aviation emissions as a whole, in the national carbon budgets. “A possible scenario could be for the government to accept inclusion of international aviation emissions in principle but wait on developments with the […]
In Florida, a new study from Cardno Entrix claims that even though livestock producers are pushing for the EPA to reduce the RFS mandate claiming that animal feed prices are soaring because of biofuel mandates, if the mandates are lower feed prices could still rise because of higher prices due to reduced supplies of soy […]
In Spain, the government has reversed its order limiting biodiesel imports to only those of European origin following a circular sent last week by the European Commission reminding EU member states about import regulations from third countries. The move follows saber rattling by Argentina at the World Trade Organization who says that it will still […]
In Florida, Governor Rick Scott is urging the federal government to temporarily eliminate the fuel requirement for corn ethanol in an attempt to rescue the state’s cattle industry. The governor sent a letter to the US Environmental Protection Agency explaining that drastically reduced corn supplies following this year’s drought are causing cattle feed prices to […]
In Washington, Businessweek asserted that Gevo, Syntroleum, and Solazyme are on the “inside track” to scoring supply contracts with the Department of Defense, given their already existing research relationships. The article also indicated that Cobalt Technologies and Sustainable Oils have similar research projects that may also place them in the running. “Winning one of the […]
