Francisco Lopez Tostado, the Mexican Undersecretary for Agriculture will open the event, addressing the recent government led incentives for jatropha cultivation and biofuels development in Mexico.

The event also will draw on case study experiences from leading market experts, including: SG Biofuels, Curcas Diesel, Abundant Biofuels Corp, Jatropha Sustainable Biofuels Alliance, Argentine Ministry of Agriculture, Biogreen Oil and Biocombustibles de Guatemala.

Jatropha Markets Americas will take place alongside Biofuels Markets Mexico & Central America, taking place on the 8th July.

Around 1,000 people came through the Heysel complex’s doors during the course of the event’s three days – bucking the trend set by many conferences and suggesting that optimism does exist in an industry determined to cement its place as a market of not just now, but of the future too.

Exhibitors were quick to volunteer that the event had proven a great success, with biofuels certifiers TUV Sud speaking for many on the expo floor by saying: “the week has been very rewarding and we’ve made many interesting contacts.”

The company’s onsite representative, Igor Dormuth, added: “As an exhibitor, this is certainly a suitable platform for us.”

Dormuth’s thoughts were echoed by the two women – Annemarie and Sandra – representing Belgium’s own Port of Ghent: “It’s an excellent way to represent our business. We simply have to be here,” said Annemarie.

“It’s been great,” added Sandra. “We’ve made many business contacts this week, seen a lot of interest and have certainly been busy – especially on the second day.”

It must be said that the stand’s popularity could also have had something to do with the marvellous meaty snacks and aromatic (yet potent) Ghent-produced violet genever on offer…

Samantha Swann, meanwhile, a commissioning editor with UK-based Wiley publishers (which produces Biofpr journal, among other publications) described the event as a “good hunting ground for potential authors, as well as subscribers. We are well-known to academics, of course, but this is the ideal forum to find new markets for the magazine among the biofuels industry – and track down lots of technical writers too.”

“Essentially, this is the key European event for us,” Ms Swann added.

The calibre of speakers over the week – who included ‘Sir’ Bob Geldof and Lord Browne, plus other industry leaders, activists, biofuels experts and politicians – was also generally praised by attendees, whether they be delegates, other speakers or those exhibitors who managed to get away from their stands to catch a speech or two.

Overall, and despite a wariness on behalf of the industry to appear too confident – understandable given current market conditions in every marketplace, not just that of biofuels – an air of optimism could be detected as the attendees mingled at networking tables, swapped news, floated ideas and exchanged email addresses. Most encouraging of all, many were looking forward to seeing each other again at the 2010 WBM event.

So, it’s over-and-out from Brussels at the end of the third day – and the third conference year. But, once again, it’s not really ‘goodbye’, but merely ‘au revoir’…

Tony Mallett
Freelance reporter

SEKAB, Argent Energy and PetroAlgae were delighted to pick up the prizes amid fierce competition from industry players.

“The Sustainable Biofuels Awards have been developed to help promote the considerable benefits of biofuels production and to encourage greater focus on sustainability criteria right throughout the biofuels value chain,” said Green Power Conferences event director Nadim Chaudhry.

In its inaugural year, three awards were given out with a shortlist of three per category chosen from nominations and recommendations. The judging panel voted independently on who they felt has provided the greatest sustainability benefits, as measured by GHG savings, environmental impact and further societal benefits of the operations or technology of the nominees.

Awards

1. Sustainable Bioethanol Award – for a distributor or producer

   Nominees

   • SEKAB (award collected by Per Carstedt)
   • Greenergy International
   • Ineos Bio
2. Sustainable Biodiesel Award – for a distributor or producer

   Nominees

   • Argent Energy (award collected by Dickon Posnett)
   • Neste Oil
   • Mabanaft
3. Sustainable Biofuels Technology – for a technology supplier

   Nominees

   • PetroAlgae (award collected by Fred Tennant)
   • Praj Industries
   • Institute of New Energy, Tsinghua University

Voting Panel:
Jeff McNeely, Chief Scientist, IUCN
Uwe Fritsche, Oeko Institute
Suzanne Hunt, Hunt Green LLC
Charlotte Opal, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Sebastien Hayes, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Nicole Denis, McKinsey
Sandrine Dixson Decleve, IFQC

Information about the awards: www.greenpowerconferences.com/wbm_2009/awards/index.html

Information about the World Biofuels Congress: www.worldbiofuelsmarkets.com

Geldof, inspirational as ever, spoke frankly of the plight of women and children living in poverty in Africa and told a rapt audience that biofuels were ‘part of the mix’ that would lead to greater development overall in the continent.

An upbeat Lord Browne was more biofuels specific, telling the industry that it had been too defensive and negative for much of the past year. The time was now ripe, he insisted, for positivity. Despite the credit crunch, the worst “might be behind us”, he explained.

In the same session, Brazilian minister Andre Correa Do Lago earned a Geldof nod of approval when saying, “We must find out how biofuels development can help the people of Africa. We must not look upon this as a new colonialism.”

Later, the greying but still charismatic Geldof – Elvis-like – ‘left the building’, in his case to catch a train. But the man who has been campaigning on behalf of the people of Africa for 25 years would have been delighted to know that the subject of sustainable development in the impoverished continent came up again and again during later sessions.

Meanwhile, nobody in the main auditorium was inclined to disagree with a German speaker who opened his remarks with “some bad news and some good news”. The bad news, he said, is that fossil fuels are running out. “The good news,” he continued, to ensuing laughter from stakeholders in the stalls, “…is that fossil fuels are running out.”

On other matters during the day, the European Commission confirmed its opinion that biofuels are the only current alternative to oil in the transport sector. No surprise there, but another confidence booster nevertheless.

So, after a difficult year all round, the biofuels industry may not quite be out of the sustainable woods just yet, but Lord Browne’s rallying call certainly sowed the seeds of optimism.

Tony Mallett
Freelance reporter

www.worldbiofuelsmarkets.com

Exhibitors mingled with speakers and delegates on the floor and over lunch as the key players in one of the world’s most important markets met and shared thoughts, ideas and visions for the future.
Pre-congress forums were the order of the day covering diverse topics such as algae, bioplastics and chemicals, while elsewhere delegates tackled hard-core subjects affecting the biofuels field – investment matters, policies, standards and more.

While uncertainty is stalking all of the world’s cutting-edge industries given the global financial crisis, there was nothing uncertain about the admiration of exhibition hall visitors, who regularly stopped between questioning exhibitors about their diverse products and services, to ogle a swish looking Swedish-made car that runs on bioethanol.

But there’s more than just renewable fuel supercars here. The hall’s exhibitors are all looking forward to tomorrow’s crowds, while delegates and journalists are anticipating a cracking start to the first day proper, with keynote appearances from rock star campaigner Bob Geldof – who will take the Africa/biofuels angle – and industry leader Lord Browne, among others.

One thing is certain, everyone will need plenty of fuel at breakfast to get through what is sure to be a busy and fascinating day.

Tony Mallett
Freelance reporter

www.worldbiofuelsmarkets.com

This course is part of their line up of sustainability courses aimed at those who are new to the industry such as sales people transferring from other industries or companies entering new markets. They are described as non-technical courses for people who are new to the industry or those who want to update their knowledge.

Have a look at the website for more information:
www.greenpoweracademy.com
www.worldbiofuelsmarkets.com

1) You have campaigned long for humanitarian relief in Africa, what do you see as some of the key challenges?

No, I have campaigned against poverty which is a political and economic construct. It may seem counter-intuitive, but now as we live through a grave economic crisis is the moment to address this.

Without including the 3 billion people who are living on less than $2 per day in the new global financial architecture we will continue to have an asymmetric system with inbuilt instability.

2) How do you see biofuels helping Africa?

Import substitution. More money in the economy. More jobs. Domestic fuel at the local level. Infrastructure. Education and health benefits.

Africa has always used “bio-fuel” as a primary source – wood, dung, residue etc. They can build responsibly on this tradition.

3) Fast forward 10 or 20 years and what would you like to see have happen?

Re bio-fuels; Regulated industries. Sustainable cropping in a sustainable economy. Non-arable land used for non-edible crops. Improvement in local life, opportunity etc.

Meet Sir Bob Geldof and 200 other biofuels experts from around the globe at the World Biofuels Markets 2009
www.worldbiofuelsmarkets.com

The Awards are intended to recognise businesses that have taken steps to ensure a sustainable product, and to help communicate the biofuels products that are developed sustainably and with positive environmental and social benefits.

Sounds like a good idea.
You can vote here if you agree: www.greenpowerconferences.com/wbm_2009/awards/index.html

Oliver Schaeffer, of the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC), this week poured scorn on suggestions by MEP Dorette Corbey, that the EU´s target of using 10% biofuels in Europe´s transport fuels by 2020 is ‘too high´.

The biofuels target is part of a broader goal to ensure that 20% of all European energy comes from renewable sources by the same year.

Dutch Socialist Corbey told this website: “We´re still waiting for the second generation of biofuels to come through. The balance is wrong at the moment – there are not enough good ones and they take up too much space. A lot of MEPs feel that a 10% biofuels target is too high.’

But Schaeffer hit back saying: “If we wait until the second generation is ready we´ll never reach our target. We need to start now and combine the two as we go along.

“Granted, we are shooting for the moon. It´s ambitious but it´s feasible. We can deliver the target within the necessary sustainability criteria. It is technically, financially and scientifically possible and, in fact, the potential is much higher than 10%.

   Industry ‘Mistakes´

Speaking ahead of the World Biofuels Markets Brussels Expo, to be held from 12-14 March, Schaeffer was equally forthright about the so-called food versus fuel debate.

He denied that growing crops for biofuels was the primary cause of rising food prices, saying: “What is driving food prices up? The modern diet in China, for one thing. Meanwhile, 98% of the tortillas produced in Mexico are produced by one company. They are controlling the price.’

The oil industry came in for criticism too. Said Schaeffer: “We don´t want to make the same mistakes as them. They are destroying on the ground in Nigeria, for example, and it´s clear that we can deliver compared to the oil industry on greenhouse gases and emissions.’

Comparing the industry to a huge oil tanker that takes an age to turn around, Schaeffer added: “The industry has a big problem with biofuels. The renewable market already has a turnover of €35 billion and by 2020 that will be €300bn. But how many industry CEOs actually think further than three years ahead?’

By freelance Journalist Tony Mallet, Brussels.

The Global Bioenergy Partnership fosters exchange of information, skills and technologies among
Partners, other technical and political actors, and the general public. It also provides the basis for a
deeper and more effective coordination of ongoing activities on bioenergy.

The Round Table is organized to present and discuss with leading industry representatives the
accomplishments of the GBEP GHG Methodologies Task Force, which finalized a Methodological
Framework for countries and institutions to use when developing or applying GHG methodologies for
biofuels.

Click here for more information or to attend: www.greenpowerconferences.com/wbm_2009/gbep_ghg.html.