Day 1 – Sugar & Ethanol AsiaWednesday, 25 September 2024

• The Production Rebound - demand & supply, factors that affect sugar market
• Environment for conducive productive partnerships
• The biofuel policy push
• The future of sugar and ethanol industry

• Addressing discrepancies in domestic and international prices and implementing strategies to mitigate price gaps
• Identifying market dynamics influencing supply and demand and developing solutions to enhance market efficiency and stability
• Tackling regional and international conflicts in Africa - examining water resource disputes, such as the case of the Nile River and promoting fair trade practices amidst geopolitical tensions

Presentation by Atty. Guillermo C. Tejida, III, Deputy Administrator II for Regulation, Sugar Regulatory Administration- Philippines; on the topic - Challenges to Philippine Ethanol Feedstocks Utilization

• Changing landscape - sustainability regulations and their impact on production costs, rise of IT security threats in sugar production facilities and the role of government policies in shaping sugar prices
• Investing for Success - identifying sugar companies with a focus on sustainable practices and exploring sugar ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds) for diversified investment opportunities

• Discover how 2^nd generation ethanol offers a sustainable alternative by utilizing non-food biomass feedstocks, mitigating concerns about food security and land use competition
• Insights into the cutting-edge production pathways of second-generation ethanol, exploring innovative technologies and processes driving efficiency and scalability
• Diverse applications of 2^nd generation ethanol beyond traditional fuel usage, including its role in biochemicals, bioplastics, and other emerging industries
• Critical policy frameworks needed to catalyze investments and support the widespread adoption of second-generation ethanol in Asia

• Biofuel market dynamics and sugar producers' strategies to meet demand
• Discussion on biomass suitability and strategies for securing biomass supplies
• Expansion into 2^nd generation ethanol and SAF to diversify portfolio
• Examining regulatory frameworks and their impact on sugar producers' biofuel investments
• Consideration of environmental benefits and remuneration of ethanol programmes and its influence on sugar producers' strategies

• Understand the Government's emphasis on heavy ethanol production and banning ethanol from bee-heavy molasses
• Discover political and economic impacts, including stakeholder reactions and potential inflationary pressures
• Find out how the transformation towards sustainability to meet Thai carbon neutrality goals can impact you
• Drive forward your business in Asia with challenges and opportunities in policy implementation for long-term impact

• Grain based Ethanol Distillery – Opportunities
• Rising Biofuels Market and Trend
• Challenges in grain-based ethanol production and business
• Technology Trends

• Sustainable Sugarcane - From Food to Fuel
• ESG to SDGs
• 2030 from Sustainability to Profitability

• Assessing the sustainability of sourcing ethanol for aviation fuel production, considering factors like land use, water usage, and potential impacts on food supply and pricing
• Examining how existing regulations and incentives influence the pricing and adoption of sustainable aviation fuel derived from ethanol, including subsidies, taxes, and carbon pricing mechanisms
• Opportunities for collaboration between ethanol producers, technology providers, and aviation stakeholders to drive market growth and adoption of sustainable aviation fuel, and how these collaborations could influence pricing dynamics

Our daily life and consumption largely exists thanks to fossil based energy and materials, which is today under increased scrutiny due to the associated CO2 emissions which greatly contributes to global warming.

Changing the current fossil based transportation fuels and materials to bio-based is possible through technology innovation and development, while it still requires large efforts and support (i.e., government, industries, consumers, regulations, taxes, subsidies, etc.) to reduce the global carbon footprint of our consumption.

In this presentation, the challenges of developing technologies and bringing them at commercial sale will be discussed. Fitting in different countries with different regulations need some adaption in the plant scheme which will be explained via commercial examples. Eventually, in order to reach the ambitious targets to reduce CO2 emissions of various industries, integration with existing assets, processing of both sugars and ethanol will be needed to create “bio-hubs” to deepen integration and bring cost at competitive levels.

• How can we prioritize food security while simultaneously enhancing the value chain and engaging all stakeholders?
• What steps can be taken to ensure inclusivity in solutions by considering perspectives such as human rights, end consumers, and small hoarders?
• How do we effectively manage waste to achieve zero waste goals, integrating Sustainable Development Goals and raising consumer awareness?
• In what ways can sugarcane cultivation be leveraged to add value to the value chain, promote biodiversity, and foster sustainability?
• What strategies should be implemented for efficient resource management, including water and biodiversity, while pursuing economic sustainability in key markets like Japan and the Philippines?

Presentation by Francis X. Johnson, Senior Research Fellow and Climate/Policy Lead at Stockholm Environment Institute, Asia Center, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok and Chulalongkorn University Social Research Institute

• Energy, GHG emissions and low emissions development pathways
• Carbon management and removal
• Circularity, bioeconomy and waste minimization
• Sustainability standards and certification
• Stakeholders and governance issues