The U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council recently organized a U.S.-Philippine trade promotion mission, in coordination with the Philippines Department of Agriculture (DOA), to support the U.S. ethanol industry and Filipino ethanol supply chain as the country moves toward a policy allowing gasoline to be blended with 20 percent ethanol (E20).
USGBC Regional Director for Southeast Asia & Oceania (SEA&O) Caleb Wurth and USGBC Deputy Regional Director for SEA&O Chris Markey represented the Council at the event and were joined by Council members from the Indiana Corn Marketing Council; the Minnesota Corn Research and Promotion Council; and the Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association.
This mission coincided with the annual Philippine National Corn Congress, the largest gathering of Philippine Corn farmers in the country. For the first time, the Congress was split into three clusters, representing the three main growing areas – Visayas, Mindanao and Luzon.
“The Council’s delegation engaged national and state-level stakeholders, focusing on U.S. corn production technology and ethanol’s economic and environmental benefits, particularly for rural communities that are key demographics in the Philippines,” Wurth said.
Wurth presented on the U.S. ethanol supply chain at the conference and the Council’s member representatives participated in a panel discussion about U.S. corn production practices and the economic value of ethanol to farmers and consumers.
Following the event, the team traveled to Cauayan City, Isabela, one of the Philippines’ most prominent corn growing areas, to visit an existing ethanol plant, provincial government stakeholders and corn farms.
The Council is seeking support from various local stakeholders to move the country to E20 usage. The Government of Isabela expressed its desire for an expanded ethanol industry that promotes U.S. investments in the agricultural sector and facilitates U.S. feed grains to support animal production.
“The presence of Council grower members helped build stronger connections to the customers and government officials we spoke to on the program, paving the way for future collaboration and developing a trust and loyalty to U.S. corn and corn co-products,” Wurth said.
Within the current system, U.S. ethanol compliments local Philippine ethanol production to fulfill the country’s nationwide E10 mandate. A move to E20 would equate to 360 million gallons of total ethanol demand.
Learn more about the Council’s work in the Philippines here.
