ADM to Move into Brazilian Ethanol and Indonesian Palm Oil.

[NNadir]

They should also get into RAPEseed in my opinion.

CHICAGO, Nov. 8 — Archer Daniels Midland’s new chief executive outlined a broad strategy Wednesday for the company to dominate the growing bioenergy industry, but offered few specifics on how it would carry out that vision.

Patricia A. Woertz, who took over in May, said A.D.M., the grain-processing giant, would seek to maintain its leadership in biofuels, like ethanol, by diversifying its production sources beyond corn.

The plan includes possible investments in Brazil to make sugar for ethanol and in Indonesia to make palm oil for biodiesel, as well as export opportunities for biofuels in India and elsewhere.

Despite saying the company’s goal was to be the global leader in bioenergy, which includes ethanol and biodiesel, Ms. Woertz said A.D.M. would not necessarily strive to be the market-share leader in ethanol and biodiesel. “We are interested in profitable growth,” she said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/09/business/09adm.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[phantom power]

1. It occurrs to me that agricultural biofuels would increase monoculturing worldwide.

We'd be doing it for our food and our fuel.

[NNadir]

2. I don't actually believe biofuels will impact as much as anyone thinks

pro and con.

There seems to be a small renewable energy gain for ethanol, and a larger one for biodiesel.

They can be of some help, but they cannot solve the problem. I oppose the destruction of habitat to make these fuels, but wherever they can pick up surpluses, they're OK.

That said, Brazilian ethanol and Asian Palm are not known for their habitat neutral effects.

I am fond of biodiesel from existing farmland because I think it may prove a useful additive for DME powered diesel engines. But there are certainly many other possibilities for DME that do not involve agriculture.