Syngenta leads discussion on demand for biofuels

The EPA's ruling is predicted to increase the demand for American ethanol.
The EPA's ruling is predicted to increase the demand for American ethanol. | File photo

The Commodity Classic gave Syngenta the opportunity to bring together industry leaders and ethanol producers for a discussion on the demand for ethanol in the wake of the Environmental Protection Agency’s ruling on the Renewable Fuel Standard last year. 

The ruling is predicted to have a significant impact on retail partnerships with the demand of American ethanol.

“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,” Chris Tingle, head of marketing for Enogen at Syngenta, said. “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.”

The demand for ethanol requires new technology, including advances in cellulosic technology to make biofuels more sustainable and get more ethanol from the corn.

“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,” Jack Bernens, head of Enogen at Syngenta, said. “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.”