The ethanol partnership between the US and Brazil aims to enhance cooperation, R&D efforts between the top two producing nations with an ultimate aim of making ethanol a global commodity.
 
However, concrete results remain to be seen as the US keeps to its strict import tariffs on Brazilian ethanol.
 
Is the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI ) the only way for Brazilians exporters to bypass this import tariff ?
 
At the same time,  Brazil does not lack suitors for its ethanol and recently signed deal with Japan for the later to lock up a sizable chunk of its future ethanol supplies. Rapidly expanding sugar –cane cultivation and aiming to double production by 2012, can Brazil maintain its leading position as the top ethanol producer  in the world ?
 
Are infrastructure systems in place to handle ethanol transportation ? Will pipeline fit into the plan?
 
Developing nations, eg El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, and St. Kitts and Nevis will inherit much of the R&D expertise from the US-Brazil alliance to assist them to become independent ethanol producers.  How has this advanced ?
 
As the US ethanol industry continues to expand, the food vs fuel debate continues to emerge. Is ethanol expansion really to be blamed for increase in food prices ? What is the real net energy balance of corn ethanol production ?
 
However with Cellulosic ethanol, there is no food vs fuel debate.  What are the recent cellulosic feedstocks that has been explored ?  Are they economically viable ?
 
“Citrus peel to ethanol plant announced” July 27, 2007 Industry Week
 
“New corn variety turns stalks into ethanol” May 5, 2007 Science Daily.com
 
With technologies rapidly developing, cellulosic ethanol will  soon become viable.  What does this signal to corn producers about its future as a long term feedstock in the ethanol industry? 
 
Nevertheless ,this has not stopped companies from building or acquiring corn based ethanol plants, or securing more feedstock by buying up smaller companies . Critics argue that some announced plants will not take off as lenders tighten their financing.  Where will all this head to ? Is the US ethanol industry showing signs of consolidation ?
 
Will the impending NAFTA integration likely see a flood of sugar supplies from Mexico into the US ? How will this impact the US sugar economy ?
 
Mexico on the other hand, has plans to go into ethanol production. How will this change the whole dynamics of the sugar trade in the region ?
 
Have all your questions answered at CMT’s 2nd Americas Sugartrade & Ethanol conference. Based on the success of last year’s event in Mexico, the upcoming conference has lined up an authoritative panel of speakers that will share their views on the region’s dynamic sugar & ethanol industry.
 
You’ll network with
• Managing Directors • CEOs • VPs • Business Managers • Sales and Marketing Directors • Purchasers • Planners • Operations Managers • Technical Managers • Production Managers • Plant and Refinery Managers • Research and Development Managers • Agriculture and Trade Policy Enforcers • Cane and Beet Producers • White and Raw Sugar Producers • Refineries • Commodity Traders and Brokers • Sugar Equipment Manufacturers • Bankers and Financiers • Sugar End-users including Beverage/Food & Snack Corporation