SAN ANTONIO, Texas — U.S. agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack reiterated his support for biofuel production and said his department will soon begin promoting biofuel exports while speaking at Commodity Classic Feb. 28.
“We think the world is ready for American biofuel,” said Vilsack in a speech to thousands of farmers at the huge American crop show.
Vilsack said the U.S. Department of Agriculture and trade officials will begin actively promoting the sale of U.S. biofuel, something that has not generally been done before.
Money from the department’s trade promotion funding will be used to try to convince overseas customers to consider importing biofuel.
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“We want to use these resources to promote this great American product,” said Vilsack.
The new campaign will begin with a trade mission to China this spring, with other large Asian buyers next.
“We will focus our efforts on India and Japan and China, where we think there are opportunities to discuss octane and environmental benefits from biofuel,” said Vilsack.
With the topping out of U.S. biofuel production as the “blend wall” has been hit, a crucial driver of rising grain prices in recent years has been lost.
A number of American farm group leaders said at Commodity Classic that their number one priority is to protect the Renewable Fuel Standard, which is the policy that creates the demand that allows more than one-third of U.S. corn production to be used for ethanol.
Vilsack noted that the RFS is overseen by the Environmental Protection Agency, which is not in his department.
However, he said he had been a long-term supporter of biofuels and would use whatever programs he could to support their manufacture.
“It’s in our long-term interest to have this industry,” said Vilsack.
“I believe in it. I believe it’s incredibly, fundamentally important.”
