Nearly 450 international buyers and end-users of ethanol and its co-products from more than 40 countries are arriving in Washington, D.C. this week for Global Ethanol Summit 2025 (GES), ready to engage with experts from around the world on global ethanol opportunities while connecting with industry partners.
Hosted by the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council (USGBC), and supported by Growth Energy, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), and BASF, GES is a premier industry event that features more than 400 policymakers, ministerial level officials and senior industry leaders, researchers, ethanol producers, traders and industry stakeholders.
GES will feature three themed days during the conference: ethanol is renewable and available, ethanol is compatible and ethanol is affordable.
The conference will address emerging markets in on-road and off-road applications, ethanol’s contributions to economic and agricultural development, its impact on reduced carbon emissions, robust environments and improved human health, carbon intensity discussions and implementation measures, removing trade restrictions and ethanol use and technological advancements.
Today participants attended pre-conference ethanol technical workshops that featured two panels with speakers Doug Berven, vice president of corporate affairs at POET; Rowena Torres-Ordonez, ethanol consultant for USGBC; Tad Hepner, vice president of strategy and innovation at RFA; Morten Jacobsen, secretary general of the Global Ethanol Association; Jake Comer, vice president of market development and Kristy Moore, consultant for Growth Energy; Ron Lamberty, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at the American Coalition for Ethanol; and Hagan Rose, international director of sales and marketing at Eco-Energy.
‘We are thrilled to be able to host this third global edition of Global Ethanol Summit,” said Alicia Koch, USGBC director of global ethanol export development.
“It is an unparalleled opportunity for decision makers and stakeholders in the ethanol value chain to access experts, resources, and networking in a curated, concentrated forum – not to mention the hands-on experience for all the trade teams that are able to interact directly with American agriculture.”
The day ended with a welcome reception and opening of the industry showcase hall where attendees can interact throughout the conference with five businesses and organizations that feature ethanol and biofuel technology.
Before attending GES, the Council organized 12 trade teams to show international buyers and end-users aspects of the U.S. ethanol value chain to strengthen relationships. Three trade teams arrived from the Philippines, Vietnam and South Korea in the U.S. before GES and visited corn-growing states during harvest, explored ethanol and DDGS production at ethanol plants and viewed terminal facilities in Iowa, North Dakota and Nebraska. After the event, the remaining nine trade teams will leave for post-conference tours to visit the ethanol value chain in additional corn-growing states before returning to their home countries.
The conference runs through Wednesday in Washington, D.C. More information about GES 25, including the agenda, is available here or on social media using the hashtag #GES25.
