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SAO PAULO, Brazil, Nov. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- A decision by Brazil's trade
promotion agency, APEX-Brasil, to sponsor the top ethanol-powered auto racing
category, the Indy Racing League (IRL), contributes to consolidate ethanol as
a global commodity and is in the spirit of a Memorandum of Understanding on
biofuels signed between the governments of Brazil and the United States in
2007.
According to the president of the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association
(UNICA), Marcos Sawaya Jank, the deal strengthens a natural partnership
between Brazil and the United States, the world's top producers and consumers
of ethanol. Together, the two countries account for more than 75% of global
ethanol production. "This will help ethanol to attain global energy commodity
status as well as fulfill its vital objectives: to help provide energy
security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions," he added.
A letter of intention was signed today between APEX-Brasil and the IRL on
the opening day of the First International Brazil-Biofuels Exhibition held at
the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Sao Paulo. UNICA was notified in late October that
negotiations between APEX-Brasil and the IRL were underway, and that the
overall objective for APEX-Brasil is to utilize the Indy Car racing season to
promote a variety of Brazilian products in the three countries where the
league holds its races: the United States, Canada and Japan.
APEX-Brasil has requested that UNICA consult its 116 member companies to
identify those interested in supplying their own ethanol, or purchasing
ethanol from feedstocks other than sugarcane, to fuel the Indy races.
Regardless of the feedstock used in its production -- corn, sugarcane, or
various cellulosic materials in the future -- the final molecular composition
is the same. The end result is a clean, renewable biofuel that reduces
dependence on fossil fuels and combats one of the major causes of climate
change. In times of widespread energy, financial and environmental dilemmas,
UNICA believes the use by the IRL of ethanol sourced from different agro
feedstocks symbolizes the dream of greater energy integration involving
countries throughout the Americas, an idea with the potential to spread to the
entire planet.
"The involvement of APEX-Brasil is a natural next step, since several
Brazilian pilots already compete in the IRL. We're anxious to contribute so
that Indy continues to showcase all of the benefits of ethanol use instead of
fossil fuels. This involoves teamwork, and both the United States and Brazil,
as major producers and users of ethanol, have the duty to remain ahead of the
pack in the global race for alternative energy sources," concluded Jank.
About UNICA
The Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) represents the top
producers of sugar and ethanol in the country's South-Central region,
especially the state of São Paulo, which accounts for about 50% of the
country's sugarcane harvest and 60% of total ethanol production. UNICA
develops position papers, statistics and specific research in support of
Brazil's sugar, ethanol and bioelectricity sectors. In 2007, Brazil produced
an estimated 490 million metric tons of sugarcane, which yielded 30.5 million
tons of sugar and 22.3 billion liters of ethanol.
More Information:
CDN Corporate Communications
Rosa Webster - 55 (11) 3643 2707 / rosa.webster@cdn.com.br
Marli Romanini - 55 (11) 3643 2756 / marli@cdn.com.br
Mariane dos Santos - 55 (11) 3643 2730 / mariane.santos@cdn.com.br
SOURCE Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA)
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