Cornering the market in agrofuels: Brazil’s bid to dominate the EU

Brazil, the world’s leading exporter of agrofuels (crops grown for fuel), is hosting an International Conference on Biofuels between 17-21 November 2008.1 With over 1000 representatives from national governments, international organisations, academia, business and civil society, the event represents Brazil’s greatest PR effort so far to promote its ethanol as a sustainable renewable energy source in the face of mounting international scepticism and a growing global food crisis. This article looks at the ways in which the Brazilian government and the agrofuel industry have pursued this goal and the role that European Member States have played in helping Brazil achieve its mission. This article looks at the ways in which the Brazilian government and the agrofuel industry have pursued this goal and the role that European Member States have played in helping Brazil achieve its mission.