Is there a future for first-generation biofuels producers?

The conclusions of the III Biofuel Summit & Expo left a sad picture to the producers of first-generation biofuels. This young industry, according to organizers, participates in a market at the moment is full of "turbulence" and which needs restructuring, because "it seems not able to mount an organized defense of their own interests, so it seems doomed to disappear". This phrase and others appear in a peculiar press release on the website of the Congress (www.biofuelsummit.info), in which he accuses the media of a "perverse and ludicrous handling" and being "easy victims of some interested parties who want to make consumers believe the nonsense that the biocumbustibles are now the worst of" "the evils". Alleged stakeholders would, according to the note, "some producers of second generation, which are precisely the main providers of (renewable) energy and some of its allies closer".

This press release, on the other hand, does not explain why the biofuels sector is "the worst of evils" to the press (as it could be the upsurge in prices has resulted in the food sector or the reason that any producer of first-generation biofuels has wanted to attend the Biofuel Summit III)held in Madrid.

In this Congress, attended by rapporteurs 30, some of which defended, carrying out an analysis in depth, that the increase in food prices is not concerned with biofuels, position which also maintains the Organization of the Summit. Not felt the same representatives of Greenpeace, also present, that claim should not encourage the use of the biofuel "until proved that they will not cause the degradation of large forests like the Amazon, and while not guarantee a reduction in emissions is not now insured".

While from the Organization of the Biofuel Summit accused the media of presenting a "diarrhea of news" against biofuels, are organizations little suspicious as the UN, IMF, OECD, World Bank or the Fao which most have criticized and questioned the viability of this type of fuel.

In the European Union and the United States, despite these discordant voices, are biofuels subsidies. While President Bush has stated that these types of fuels "are only responsible for 15 percent of the inflation in food", the Commissioner for agriculture, Mariann Fischer, has stated that "the effect is really limited on food prices". Fischer has also recalled that "used properly, they are a weapon before problems resulting from lack of energy supply and the fight against climate change".

From the Association of producers of renewable energies (APPA), States that "biofuels are the only alternative available to start to replace oil in transport, resulting in 25 percent of greenhouse gases".

However, since Intermón Oxfam ensures that Palm oil is has become more expensive a 37%, corn, 60, and soy, a 30 per cent, all of them because of bio-fuels. The rice is different, as also argue the Biofuel Summit organizers, since, despite the fact that it has also affected its listing, depends on factors such as the weather or people. Responsible for the Biofuel Summit have tried to express that there is no relationship between the Congress and the increase in prices, "they are not produced from rice, and that for the production of the same are used nor rice fields".

The III Biofuel Summit & Expo, despite not having any producer in Madrid first-generation biofuels, yes told representatives of companies, entities and NGOs as the CNE, Ecofys, Unilever, Greenpeace, the Anfac, the Confederation of agrarian cooperativesHCL or the Idae.

In his statement, he told with stands of companies and consulting firms such as B & T Enegy Consulting, Carburol, Ecofys, ED & F MAN, Flottweg, Intertek or R-Energy.

After spending in 2007 in Madrid and in 2008 by St. Petersburg and again Madrid, the fourth edition of the Biofuel Summit, between 22 and 24 October of next year will be held in Buenos Aires.

The organizers hope that the Mercosur-European Summit & Expo for biomass and sustainable biofuels is the first intercontinental professional initiative that offers great opportunities to Europe and South America biofuels industry to establish contacts and sustainable business relationships.

This new edition of the Biofuel Summit, will address issues such as the production and management of raw materials, new resources, the increase in yields or technologies for conversion, on his first day. The second day will be focused on the conversion and the technological improvements and new technologies used for this will analyse. The third and last day will be devoted to the optimization of engines and fuels to achieve a better control on emissions, compatibility, mixing, fuel use, storage and transport and monitoring of processes. The day before the conclusion of Summit, August 21, will be held the II workshop on certification of sustainable biofuels, in order to respond to the need to integrate the standards of the entire chain of quality of biofuels sustainability.