Assessing biofuel impact in Latin America

Assessing this year’s prospects for biofuels in South America is about much more than just what is happening in Brazil.
As a starting point, however, it’s difficult to move pass the country’s recent change of government and subsequent upheaval surrounding the actual changing of power.
With more than 400 biofuel plants operating in Brazil, according to the latest USDA figures, and the country’s National Biofuels Policy, RenovaBio, now into its fourth year, the next few months are going to be crucial in setting the sector’s forward agenda.
The new government, headed by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, took office on January 1, sparking political protests which attracted global attention.
For Brazil’s business leaders, however, the focus now switches to what their fresh administration will do, including as regards climate change, energy transition and renewables.
An early opportunity for the country’s newly appointed Environment Minister, Marina Silva, to show her hand came when she addressed the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on January 17, an opportunity used to declare a firm commitment to...