Syngenta biofuels forum cites retail partnerships, new technologies as keys to industry success

Syngenta recently hosted an industry conversation on ethanol and the future of fuel at Commodity Classic in New Orleans. The event brought together leaders representing industry, ethanol producer and agricultural perspectives to discuss opportunities to grow demand for American ethanol in the wake of the EPA’s 2015 ruling on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

 

“Congress created the Renewable Fuel Standard in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and expand the nation’s renewable fuels sector while reducing reliance on imported oil,” said Chris Tingle, head of marketing for Enogen® at Syngenta. “In 2014 alone, the ethanol industry created and supported nearly 400,000 new jobs across the country, while contributing nearly $53 billion to the Gross Domestic Product and generating more than $5.7 billion in federal tax revenues.”

 

Last November, the EPA finalized the volume requirements and associated percentage standards under the RFS program in calendar years 2014, 2015 and 2016 for cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel and total renewable fuel. According to Kelly Manning, vice president of development for Growth Energy, the EPA ruling makes retail partnerships more important than ever as a strategy for growing demand for American ethanol.

 

“American ethanol has become an important success story,” Manning said. “For our industry to enjoy sustainable success, however, there needs to be an increase in ethanol demand. In recent years, many steps have been taken to increase ethanol’s availability in the U.S. market. Most notable was when the EPA allowed the use of gasoline blends containing as much as 15 percent ethanol in vehicle models from 2001 and newer. 

 

“Looking ahead, retail partnerships like the Prime the Pump Fund will be key to expanding the availability for higher ethanol blends and growing demand for earth-friendly American ethanol. Prime the Pump is helping high-volume, progressive-minded and industry-leading fuel retailers, who will demonstrate the performance, cost savings and profit opportunity of marketing higher ethanol blends such as E15.”

 

Last year, Syngenta announced that it will donate approximately $600,000 to the Prime the Pump Fund. The Syngenta donation is part of a commitment initiated in 2013 to contribute $1 to the ethanol industry for every acre planted with Enogen corn enzyme technology – and is being extended through 2016.

 

In addition to retail partnerships, new technologies are also critical to the future of fuel. Specifically, advances in cellulosic technology are helping to make biofuels more sustainable and produce more ethanol from the same bushel of corn.

 

Galva, Iowa-based Quad County Corn Processors (QCCP) achieved EPA certification in 2014 to generate D3 Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) for cellulosic ethanol using Cellerate™ process technology. Cellerate is a collaboration between Syngenta and Cellulosic Ethanol Technologies, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of QCCP.

 

According to Delayne Johnson, chief executive officer at QCCP, the generation of D3 RINs helps fulfill advanced and cellulosic requirements set forth by the RFS. Issuing D3 RINs has also enabled the company to expand sales into racing and advanced biofuels markets.

 

“With Cellerate, the biofuels industry now has the technology available to create 2 billion gallons of additional cellulosic ethanol – all from the same kernel of corn,” Johnson said. “QCCP is proud to be one of the first companies to issue D3 RINs. We look forward to higher D3 RIN requirements as new production comes on.”

 

Supporting both food and fuel production, ethanol is making a significant contribution to the U.S. economy, helping to drive down gasoline prices for consumers and reduce carbon emissions for a cleaner environment.

 

“Ethanol is helping America reduce its dependence on foreign oil, lowering prices at the pump, improving the environment with lower emissions and growing the economy with jobs that can't be outsourced,” said Jack Bernens, head of Enogen at Syngenta. “Syngenta recognizes the importance of retail partnerships to help grow demand for American ethanol and initiatives to help make cellulosic ethanol a reality. We believe both are key to the long-term success of the ethanol industry. ”