by Géraldine Kutas | Aug 31, 2019 | ethanol, sustainability
The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is a vital component of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) policy to enhance America’s energy security and reduce the impact of transportation emissions on the environment. As global leaders in search for clean, renewable...
by Géraldine Kutas | Jul 8, 2019 | sugarcane sector, sustainability
20 years to the day of negotiations beginning, an agreement was reached on the EU-Mercosur deal. Cautious optimism had been growing for some weeks, but when the confirmation was received late on Friday 28thJune, it came nonetheless as a huge surprise. Here we...
by Géraldine Kutas | Jun 25, 2019 | environmental protection, sugarcane sector
EU-Mercosur negotiations have had their share of ups and downs over the past 20 years. However, since the beginning of the year, the new Brazilian Government surprised many with their strong pro-trade stance and have demonstrated an unexpected ambition to close the...
by Géraldine Kutas | Feb 13, 2019 | sugarcane sector
Today we are proud to announce the nomination of the new President and CEO of UNICA, Dr. Evandro Gussi. We are enthusiastic he will direct UNICA during exciting yet challenging times for biofuels, sugar and bioelectricity, in Brazil and around the globe. A lawyer by...
by Géraldine Kutas | Jan 17, 2019 | biofuels, environmental protection
As we wind down towards the end-of-year holiday period, it’s time to take pause for our traditional reflection on the challenges and successes of the past year, and to take stock of opportunities and objectives for the year to come. One of the major European...
by Géraldine Kutas | Nov 26, 2018 | air quality, ethanol, sustainability
As COP24 approaches it is clear that we are nowhere near to being on track to meet the commitments made at Paris. Much more needs to be done just to meet those obligations, and even if we did, this still wouldn’t be sufficient to contain the rise in average...
by Géraldine Kutas | Nov 13, 2018 | biofuels, environmental protection
With today’s European Parliament (EP) approval of REDII (495 in favour, 68 against, 61 abstentions) a major milestone on the EU’s biofuels journey has been reached. It’s been a rocky road, and lawmakers have finally agreed a text in the Renewables Directive that gives...
by Géraldine Kutas | Sep 26, 2018 | air quality, ethanol, sugarcane
In the week of 4 to 8 of September I was invited to the Kingsman Annual Sugar Conference in New Delhi (India) to speak about how sugarcane ethanol can contribute to decarbonizing transport and improving air quality. During that week I also had the opportunity to visit...
by Géraldine Kutas | Jul 9, 2018 | Sem categoria
Since December last year the closing of the EU-Mercosur trade negotiations has continually seemed tantalizingly just around the corner, but certain obstacles have proved stubborn in rearing their heads, stretching out the talks until the middle of 2018. Hope has...
by Géraldine Kutas | Jun 25, 2018 | Sem categoria
The UNICA Forum has once again proved its standing as one of the most important events on bioenergy and transport. More than 600 people attended this year’s edition in São Paulo on 18 June 2018. Participants included eight candidates in Brazil’s Presidential race as...
by Géraldine Kutas | May 16, 2018 | Sem categoria
On 17 May representatives of the European Parliament, member states and the European Commission will meet to negotiate the provisions on biofuels in the Renewables Directive (RED II). This might be the last chance to find a compromise that ensures the future of a...
by Géraldine Kutas | May 3, 2018 | Sem categoria
The EU has the opportunity to close two major trade deals in 2018: with Mexico, on which it just reached political agreement; and with the Mercosur trading block, where an agreement lies tantalizingly within reach. The EU’s recent success in closing major trade...
by Géraldine Kutas | Apr 3, 2018 | Sem categoria
As every year, the 2018 edition of the Forum for the Future of Agriculture (FFA) which was held in Brussels last week was another impressive event. There are very few agriculture-focused events in Brussels of the same calibre that manage to gather such an impressive...
by Géraldine Kutas | Feb 21, 2018 | Sem categoria
The negotiators for the EU-Mercosur trade deal are doing an impressive job. This Tuesday started the third week of full time negotiations since the beginning of February, only interrupted by Carnival. The negotiators clearly see what they are fighting for and the...
by Géraldine Kutas | Jan 9, 2018 | Sem categoria
The European Parliament will soon vote on the recast of the renewables directive (RED II), one of the key elements of the clean energy package. RED II is critical in ensuring that we harness the potential of renewable energy effectively, and in decarbonising the...
