U.S. Grains Council drives ethanol blending in Central America

In Washington D.C., the U.S. Grains Council intensified efforts to promote ethanol blending across Central America at the recent “Cultivando Energía” conference in Costa Rica, where more than 80 industry leaders and policymakers from countries including Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, and Panama gathered to discuss the future of biofuels. The event underscored ethanol’s critical role in reducing transportation emissions and supporting agro-industrial growth in the region.

The USGC, with its mission to develop export markets for U.S. agricultural products like ethanol, is spearheading these efforts by providing technical expertise and fostering collaboration between governments and the private sector. USGC President Ryan LeGrand highlighted how ethanol can help countries achieve their carbon-reduction targets while boosting energy security.

Costa Rica, for example, is targeting a 10% ethanol blend in premium gasoline by 2026, with Guatemala and Panama following similar paths. The USGC has been instrumental in guiding these countries on ethanol policy and infrastructure development. A memorandum of understanding signed between the USGC and the Inter-American Institute for Agricultural Cooperation further strengthens this collaboration, aiming to support biofuel legislation and technical training throughout the region.