Biodiesel: anticipation of targets - BRAZIL

Biodiesel: anticipation of targets - BRAZIL

Monday, November 30, 2009. Jornal do Brazil

Among the first attempts to produce biodiesel in Brazil and three years in anticipation of the goal of adopting a mixture of 5% in diesel (called B5), it took more than 30 years. The adoption of B5 from January 2010 to increase the production of the industry, surpassing the 2 billion liters of biodiesel. But if the supply seems to be an issue overcome the concern of the Lula government, which launched in 2003 the National Program for Production and Use of Biodiesel, is the diversification of raw material. Today, almost 90% of Brazilian biodiesel comes from soybeans.

- The anticipation of this goal of 2013 served to ensure the busiest industry. Now, farmers have led to the proposal of B20 (20% biodiesel) underground, let's look, but the priority is to promote diversification of raw materials, and thus reduce dependence on soybeans, which is and has always been very important - says the director of the Department of Renewable Fuels of the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Ricardo Dornelles.

With over 10 years in the market for ethanol and biodiesel, the marketing consultant Paul Smith Costa, former manager of foreign trade Copersucar, agrees with the director of Durham and points out that the speed of adoption of industry B5 showed a "mature" .

- We had two major changes in the program that caused this change. The family farm was no longer a priority. The producers would also accept the soybean. But I think we should not slow down the other raw materials. Jatropha curcas is a welcome option. While we have soy, which is spectacular, we have to research to develop other raw materials. Has time for that.

Reduction

On the eve of World Climate Conference (December, Copenhagen) the adoption of B5 puts the country on the route of the compromise reached by the Environment Minister, Carlos Minc, who announced the intention to reduce 40% carbon emissions into the atmosphere by 2020 (which causes the greenhouse effect). With production scheduled for the next year of 2.2 billion liters of biodiesel, the country has become the second largest producer in the world - Germany leads, but still need to resolve other issues for further growth in the market, benefiting the environment.

- We have to translate to price the socio-environmental benefits. In ethanol, there is a tax less, an advantage. The biodiesel is still small incentive. The consumer will not reason with environmental awareness to weigh in his pocket. Taxation is lower in family farming in the North and Northeast - says Dornelles.

Family farmers in these areas are reduced by up to 70% for soybean cultivation, while federal taxes for producers in the rest of the country decreases only 30%. According to the director of EMA, the activity of biodiesel is about 100 thousand contracts of family farming.

- There is criticism that this activity is not resolving, but the difficulty of deployment is still large. It is easy to set up an arrangement for planting in semi-arid. Speed can not even be in that we all want, but is improving.

Paulo Costa thinks, however, that the growth of biodiesel production came a change in philosophy of this activity. For him, the sale price of biodiesel is attractive for the production, but alert to the changes "adjusted" to his harvest.

- It's not about abandoning the family farm, but the acceptance of big agriculture. Today, it is advantageous trade surplus with the industry, but the rate can change and soy may be better for exports. The agricultural sector depends on other factors such as climate. The biodiesel industry is still in its infancy and can go through ups and downs to become a consolidated industry.