The annual Global Ethanol Summit, hosted by the U.S. Grains and BioProducts Council, recently concluded in Washington, D.C. Jacob Knaebel, director of market development for the Missouri Corn Growers Association, talked about what went on at the event.
“There are participants from all across the globe. We’re talking folks in the oil industry, and people in agricultural industries that are all interested in ethanol in other countries. I believe there were almost 42 different countries that are represented here at this conference, and some of the opportunities that we talk about are just enabling time for collaboration between people at these different conferences. So, we’re collaborating to better see the needs of each of these countries and further opportunities that would be mutually beneficial.”
Given what’s going on with trade and tariffs, this is an opportune time for finding more marketing opportunities.
“It’s a no-brainer that, here in the U.S., we need to find new places and new markets to take our corn to in order for us to keep moving our ever-increasing corn supply. So, other countries may have needs for corn or corn-based products such as ethanol or DDGs. So, opportunities like the Global Ethanol Summit allow us to learn more about those developing markets and convey the message that the U.S. is willing and able to meet those needs and to be a trade partner in the future.”
Knaebel talked about what he’s learned at this year’s event/
“Everybody’s talking about trade right now, and you know, it’s easy to talk about tariffs, but I’ve been learning a lot from other countries about the importance of non-tariff trade barriers that are out there. These are just obstacles that, whether it be regulations or different inspections and whatnot, pose serious issues for U.S. products coming into their products, or maybe even vice versa. So, these are conversations that help bring those obstacles to light, so that we might be able to take those messages back to the decision-makers, the regulators, or even lawmakers, in order to overcome those.”
There are other opportunities for ethanol outside of traditional fuel uses.
“I guess another key takeaway is just the different opportunities that, you know, maybe the average farmer doesn’t think about. We talked about fuel ethanol quite a bit, but we had some speakers from Nigeria who were talking about the ever-increasing need for ethanol for clean cooking within their country. You know, they’re using charcoal or coal for a lot of their cooking needs inside, and they’re looking for alternatives to that which would be able to meet their cooking needs and offer more safe product.”