Japanese Media Team Visits U.S. To Learn About Ethanol Value Chain

Last week, the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) welcomed reporters from Japan’s key nationwide news groups to visit with and interview ethanol stakeholders to gain perspective on the future of Japan’s ethanol market.

This team arrived shortly after Japan’s government announced its intention for the country’s gasoline to be blended with 10 percent ethanol (E10) by 2030 and E20 by 2024.

“As the Japanese government announced its roadmap for ethanol direct blending, we would like to support its policy by sharing the benefits of ethanol to the Japanese public,” Tommy Hamamoto, USGC Director in Japan said. “Through the media team visits, the reporters are expected to understand what ethanol is, its benefits and the future potential of it as a green energy source.”

The media team started their visit in Illinois where they met with university professors, visited a gasoline retailer and chatted with Illinois Corn to learn about U.S. corn and ethanol production. At each visit, the journalists learned about ethanol’s role in mitigating global warming and environmental benefits. They also discussed Japan’s role as an international market for U.S. corn ethanol. The team gained an understanding of broad uses of corn for food, feed and fuel and future production of U.S. corn and ethanol.

Through visiting relevant sites, the team obtained first-hand knowledge about U.S. ethanol production, distribution and uses including corn farms, ethanol plants, gasoline retailers and sustainable aviation fuel manufacturers.

The group then travelled to Washington, D.C., where they met with representatives from the National Corn Growers Association, Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association for an open dialogue about the benefits of ethanol and the market opportunities in Japan.

The journalists participated in a roundtable discussion with Congressional staff, learned about current government policies and discussed how the U.S. government can enhance U.S. corn ethanol policies. This conversation provided insights into strengthening the U.S. trade relationship with Japan’s ethanol industry.