Biofuel: Brazil’s courageous investment
Biofuels are currently the best environmentally conscious alternative to the use of fossil fuels. Brazil is the world leader in the production of biofuels thanks to the investment that its government has been providing for the past 40 years.
With Brazil’s success, other Latin American and Caribbean countries are also trying to develop biofuels with the support of groups such as the Inter-American Development Bank. The main producers of sugarcane in the region are Guyana, Jamaica and Barbados.
The world’s most important Biofuel: Ethanol
Currently, the main use of biofuel is for the production of ethanol, a gasoline mix of biofuels and fossil fuels. Brazil has been able to optimize their production to a point where they are exporting their surplus. The majority of their vehicles are also able to efficiently use ethanol. They are finding new ways to improve the original recipe of 85 percent gasoline and 15 percent biofuel. So far, they have managed to get a recipe of 75 percent gasoline and 25% biofuel.
Why are Biofuels so important for the future? Fossil fuels supplies will eventually be depleted by humans. Biofuels are derived from renewable crops. This is the reason why they are considered green energy alongside solar, wind and geothermal sources. Also, Biofuels produce less carbon dioxide than fossil fuels. Scientists believe that this is the main cause of global warming.
Brazil’s Courageous, Controversial Investment
Brazil has been investing in biofuels since the 1970′s when other nations were closing their doors for the development of this alternative energy source. This was especially hard for the Brazilian government as oil prices were low.
The spark for Brazil came with the Middle East oil embargo of 1973. Investments were required in agricultural production of sugarcane, and in building new facilities, backed by government subsidies and tax cuts. By 1990, Brazil was producing 20 times more ethanol than in 1973 and had become “energy independent,” an achievement that is the envy of other nations. The world’s first automobile to run on ethanol was a 1979 Fiat produced in Brazil.
Brazil now is offering its biofuel and ethanol expertise on an international scale, especially to developing nations in Latin America, the Caribbean and in Africa. Analysts say results are starting to show with the decline in Middle East oil prices during the past six months.
Other countries have been inspired by Brazil’s success and are currently investing in their own biofuels with the resources available. For example, Europe is using wheat and sugar beets, Asia is using palm oil and the United States are slowly replacing corn with soybean and switch grass. Great Britain is investigating the development of solid biofuels with manure and trash.
With all their efforts, no other country in the world has managed to find a green, eco-friendly biofuel that performs to the level of Brazil’s sugarcane
For more detail about eco-friendly solutions, read Joshua’s resources about Eco-friendly solutions in Latin America and the Caribbean . To search eco-friendly products, Search eco-friendly products in Latin America and the Caribbean
