Earlier this month, U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council (USGBC) President and CEO Ryan LeGrand and Council members joined a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Trade Mission (ATM) to Taiwan to discuss its plans to reach net-zero emissions.
LeGrand was joined by USGBC Director in Taiwan Michael Lu; USGBC Senior Manager of Global Ethanol Export Development Ankit Chandra; USGBC Consultant Mark Ingebretson; Growth Energy Director of Global Policy Emily Marthaler; and Eco-Energy Vice President of International Trade Hagan Rose.
“Taiwan is committed to reducing its carbon emissions and biofuels are a powerful tool to improve environmental and human health, so the Council and its members are eager and willing to be a resource to help the development of ethanol adoption here,” LeGrand said.
After arrival, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) provided a briefing for attending USDA cooperators about the social, economic and political landscapes in the country and how they affect the agricultural market.
The next day, the Council’s delegation visited the Taiwan Science and Technology Office for Net-Zero Emission (T-STONE) to discuss developments in global biofuel policy and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) development, and they received an update on gasoline blending policies in other Asian countries.
The group then attended a meeting of the Ethanol Gasoline Promotion Committee, where members of the Council’s team presented about the carbon reduction potential of an E10 gasoline blending rate and the steps needed to prepare infrastructure to deliver it to consumers.
The program was punctuated by the Economic Daily Media Forum, where high-level industry stakeholders and policymakers were in attendance for presentations about global ethanol supply and demand, Taiwan’s roadmap to net-zero emissions and the country’s energy security.
“These engagements helped the Council and USDA gain insight into the progress, trends and future development directions of biofuels in Taiwan, an already-important export market for U.S. producers that could become even more impactful in the near future if ethanol usage can expand,” LeGrand said. “The Council extends its thanks to USDA for its continued commitment to helping U.S. ethanol find homes in international markets and for our members who took the time to represent the U.S. ethanol industry at these crucial events.”
