Brazil visit to focus on biofuel ventures

Biofuel ventures will be the focus of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s visit to Brazil next week, officials yesterday said. In particular, Manila and Brasilia will sign an agreement on technology transfer for bioethanol production, while five separate investment proposals will be signed with members of the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association for the establishment of biofuel plantations. “We will sign a memorandum of agreement with [state research firm] Embrapa for the technological exchange,” said Marriz B. Agbon, Philippine Agricultural Development and Commercial Corp. president. Agriculture officials and a delegation of local sugarcane industry stakeholders will accompany President Gloria M. Arroyo in her state visit to Brazil on June 22-26. Rafael L. Coscolluela, Sugar Regulatory Administration chief, said in a telephone interview: “Our target is … fast tracking sugarcane variety development and ethanol production technology development.” Asked how much the Brazilian firms are expected to invest, Mr. Agbon said “we are still going with the P4 billion per project price tag that includes a minimum of 5,000-hectare feedstock plantation and distillery for a 30-million liter per year production.”(June 16, 2009)