Ryan LeGrand, USGBC president and CEO, speaks at the 2025 Global Ethanol Summit: (c) Chris Smith
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Global Ethanol Summit 2025 (GES), hosted by the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council (USGBC) and supported by Growth Energy, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), BASF and USGBC members culminated on Wednesday with a focus on trade and economic growth highlighting the theme “ethanol is affordable.”
“I am excited to see that in the spirit of global collaboration, access to free trade and a commitment to meet environmental targets and improve human health around the world, we have found a common bond that connects each of us – ethanol,” Ryan LeGrand, USGBC president and CEO said.
“The intention of this Global Ethanol Summit was to unite us in the common cause of influencing measurable societal change – to decarbonize transport for multiple sectors, to reduce particulate matter emissions for healthier air and to make positive impacts today that are creating opportunities for future generations.”
Speakers during the last day of the event illustrated numerous reasons why U.S. commodities offer the best advantage to global buyers and how its scalable and transparent export system provides direct access to satisfy grain-in-all-forms needs around the world.
Wednesday’s general sessions, covered by top experts in their fields, included a fireside chat “Ethanol Economics – Affordability and Market Expansion,” with Scott Richman, chief economist at RFA and Kenneth Scott Zuckerberg, director and principal of CHS Market Advisors; and a closing session panel: “Trade, Tariffs and Opportunities for Global Market Access,” featuring Andrea Kent, vice president of government and public affairs at Greenfield Global; David Carpintero, director general at ePURE; Jim Spaeth, managing director and co-founder of Aerovida Biofuels; and Frank Pearl, president of Colombian Association of Petroleum & Gas.
The conference allowed policy makers and buyers of U.S. ethanol and its co-products to network, participate in curated technical discussions and gain a better understanding of the needs of buyers around the world and the caliber of supply the U.S. provides.
As Global Ethanol Summit ends, nine trade teams will continue the momentum and head to corn-growing states to see advanced farming operations, explore ethanol production plants, view terminal and port facilities and more to build their networks with U.S. suppliers, rounding out their time in the United States.
These groups include:
• China delegation: heading to Ohio
• European Union, United Kingdom and Canada delegation: heading to Indiana
• Japan delegation: heading to Illinois
• Malaysia and Indonesia delegation: heading to Missouri
• Mexico delegation: heading to Wisconsin
• Middle East and Africa delegation: heading to Kansas
• Latin America delegation: heading to Michigan
• Latin America delegation: heading to South Dakota
• Taiwan delegation: heading to Minnesota
More information is available here or on social media at #GES25.
