Photo courtesy of U.S. Grains Council
Mick Henderson, General Manager at Commonwealth Agri-Energy of Hopkinsville, Kentucky recently represented the Bluegrass State at the U.S. Grains Council’s (USGC’s) 2024 Corn and Ethanol Conference in Tokyo, Japan. The event focused on enhancing relationships between U.S. producers and agribusinesses and Japanese importers by sharing information on the crop progress and sustainability of U.S. corn and ethanol.
Henderson and a select group of individuals chosen to represent the corn and ethanol industry promoted the quality and sustainability benefits of U.S. corn and ethanol for nearly 100 industry stakeholders.
The delegation from the Council included USGC Japan Director Tommy Hamamoto, USGC Director of Global Ethanol Export Development Mackenzie Boubin, USGC Senior Manager of Global Ethanol Market Development Ankit Chandra, former Chairman of the Illinois Corn Marketing Board and USGC At-Large Director Jim Reed, and Iowa Corn Growers Association Director Dan Keitzer.
Before the conference, the Council’s team met with staff from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA’s FAS) and the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) to bolster trade relationships. The group also met with representatives from two leading automobile manufacturers to learn about their implementation of ethanol and how the U.S. industry can help them meet their goals.
The conference itself led to discussions about the low carbon footprint of U.S. corn and ethanol, and updates on corn and DDGS production. A highlight was the introduction of the Corn Sustainability Assurance Protocol (CSAP) emphasizing the environmentally friendly practices of U.S. producers.
“The contacts and connections we made with Japanese companies and government authorities were invaluable,” Henderson said. “Japan is an increasing market for ethanol and corn, and it will take continuing engagement like that of this trip to achieve our trade goals.”
The team ended their visit by observing consumer behavior at retail fuel stations, providing further insights into consumer choices regarding ethanol.
Read more news and updates about ethanol here.