Bioenergy and biofuels in Brazil

This chapter explores the trajectories and the impacts of sugarcane and soybean as the main sources of raw material of ethanol and biodiesel, respectively, in Brazil. In Brazil, the main biofuels produced are ethanol from sugarcane and biodiesel from soybeans. The growth in the land use for sugarcane took place predominantly in the Brazilian Central-South region, especially between 1975 and 2010, with an intensification from 2003 onwards. Since the mid-2000s, the production of biodiesel has risen markedly in Brazil. In addition to the subsidies offered and the mandatory blends of biofuel in diesel, the government developed mechanisms to encourage the inclusion of family farmers in the production of oleaginous raw materials. Biodiesel can be produced from a reaction between vegetable oils or animal fats and alcohol. The implementation of government policies to encourage the production of biofuels was fundamental to boost the production and consumption of ethanol and biodiesel in Brazil.