By Andi Anderson
A Japanese media delegation recently toured Illinois to gain in-depth knowledge about corn-based ethanol and its applications in sustainable aviation fuel. Hosted by Illinois Corn and the U.S. Grains Council, the group included reporters from Japan’s leading news outlets and business journals.
The visit aimed to educate the team on the ethanol industry's foundation, corn production methods, and the use of corn as a critical feedstock for ethanol. Their itinerary included meetings with U.S. and Illinois government officials, ethanol industry leaders, and corn producers.
They visited farms, ethanol plants, and gasoline retailers. The team also engaged with focus groups to understand U.S. consumer perceptions of ethanol-blended fuels.
Japan has recently updated its modeling for corn-based ethanol and is set to begin importing U.S. ethanol to meet its carbon intensity reduction goals. This development is significant, as Japan is already a key market for U.S. agricultural products.
During the 2022/2023 marketing year, Japan ranked as the third-largest export market for grains in all forms, importing 9.6 million metric tons (377 million bushels).
By specific commodities, Japan was the top market for U.S. beef, the third-largest for corn, pork, and barley products, and the ninth-largest for U.S. sorghum. This growing interest in U.S. ethanol highlights the mutual benefits of strengthening trade relations between the two nations.
The visit also underlined the importance of ethanol in achieving global sustainability goals. With Japan embracing U.S. ethanol as part of its carbon reduction strategy, this collaboration underscores the role of agriculture in addressing climate change while boosting international trade.
This initiative not only strengthens economic ties but also sets the stage for a sustainable future powered by innovative agricultural practices and renewable energy sources.
Photo Credit: shutterstock-dickgage
Categories: Illinois, Energy