Brazil Defends Sugarcane Ethanol / Brasil defende etanol de cana-de-açúcar
Friday, November 21st, 2008From Brazil’s Nation Development Bank (BNDES):
BNDES publishes book with unprecedented mapping of the ethanol sector
Brazil is one of the most advanced countries in technology and productivity in all stages of the sugarcane ethanol production chain. The Brazilian experience shows that sugarcane bioethanol has become one of the most important responses to the growing need to [...]
Research Agenda Agreed on Climate Change and Health
Thursday, October 9th, 2008From the World Health Organization (WHO):
WHO agreed on a research agenda on climate change and public health
A meeting of experts convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Madrid agreed today to a research agenda to develop an evidence-based framework for action on the human health implications of climate change. The plan builds on a [...]
Brazil to Start Second Generation Biofuel Production by 2015
Saturday, October 4th, 2008Synopsis in English: The industrial director of Petrobras Biofuels recently declared that his company will enter into commercial production of second-generation biofuels by 2015. The company is conducting priority research in cooperation with Petrobras Research (CENPRES) into developing cellulosic ethanol utilizing wastes such as sugarcane bagasse. “This process will permit increasing production 60% using the [...]
Closer US-Brazilian Energy Cooperation
Saturday, September 20th, 2008Last month the US Secretary of Energy and Brazil’s Energy Minister met and agreed to intensify cooperation between the two nations on energy-related technology and policy issues. I haven’t seen much about this in the regular press, so I thought I’d briefly flag it here.
The two parties agreed “to focus on key areas of mutual [...]
CNPq vai investir R$ 22 milhões em biodiesel / CNPq to Invest R$22 Million in Biodiesel Production Research
Tuesday, September 9th, 2008Brazil’s National Council on Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) has announced that it will invest R$22 million to stimulate research into improving biodiesel production. The offering involves four different calls for proposals, and involves funds from the National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development (Fundo Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - FNDCT), CNPq’s Agro-business [...]
The Biofuels Sustainability Scorecard / Scorecard de Sostenibilidad de los Biocombustibles / Indicadores de Sustentabilidade em Biocombustíveis
Tuesday, September 9th, 2008From the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB):
IDB launches interactive Biofuels Sustainability Scorecard
Web application enables assessment of sustainability of biofuel projects relating to food security, land use, labor conditions
The Inter-American Development Bank released an interactive tool known as the Biofuels Sustainability Scorecard on September 9th, as part of a comprehensive effort to ensure that biofuel investments produce [...]
Brazil Now Third Largest Biodiesel Producer
Sunday, August 24th, 2008Synopsis in English: The Brazilian Presidency proudly proclaims that Brazil is now the third largest producer of biodeisel behind Germany and the US.
Brazil now has 41 biodiesel production plants in commercial operation and 52 plants in the process of getting authorization from the National Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuel Agency (Agência Nacional de Petróleo, Gás [...]
Biofuel from Sweet Potatoes
Saturday, August 9th, 2008Synopsis in English: Many people think Brazil’s interest in biofuel is limited to sugarcane ethanol. Not at all. They are looking at all the possible source materials.
Just one example: the southern state of Paraná, a leader in Brazilian agriculture, is promoting the production of sweet potatoes among family farmers with a view to [...]
Largest Biofuel Loan Yet by a Multilateral Bank
Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008Temas Note: This announcement is interesting to me for at least four reasons. First, as the title says, this is the largest biofuel loan package yet made by a multilateral development bank (MDB). [I doubt that record will stand, and probably will not even stand for very long.]
Second, it underscores IDB’s commitment [...]
São Paulo’s New Bioenergy Research Program
Tuesday, July 8th, 2008Synopsis in English: The state Research Foundation of São Paulo (Fapesp) has just launched a special program Research on Bioenergy (Bioen) that aims at marshalling the state’s considerable public and private R&D resources to adavance and apply all knowledge linked to ethanol production. São Paulo leads Brazil in ethanol production, and Brazil rivals the [...]
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