NCGA CEO Rick Tolman gives a presentation last week to Japanese economists and policy makers in Tokyo on the history of ethanol production in the United States and the future of the renewable fuel. Some Japanese are becoming more interested in renewable fuels because of their environmental and economic benefits, Tolman said.

NCGA’s Tolman Visits Japan to Discuss Renewable Fuels (2-6-06)

National Corn Growers Association CEO Rick Tolman attended the Japan Biomass Ethanol Fuel International Symposium in Misasawa, Japan, last week to give a presentation on the history of ethanol in the United States and the future of the ethanol industry. Tolman also gave the presentation at a seminar for the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in Tokyo.

The seminars focused on renewable energy production in the United States and the potential for renewable energy use in Japan. Tolman and Ralph Groschen of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture were the keynote speakers.

Tolman said Japan has many renewable fuel advocates.

“They like the environmental benefits and economic aspects of renewable fuels,” he said. “The focus of the symposium was discussing the potential to build a local industry from surplus rice and from wood chips and forest residue. They were very interested in how the renewable fuels industry has developed in the United States.”

Japan recently passed a law that allows a 3 percent ethanol blend in some vehicles. The nation has one ethanol plant that produces ethanol from sugar.

Tolman said Japan is looking for ways to increase value-added opportunities for its rural communities, just like the United States.

“Japanese rural areas are losing population to the big cities,” Tolman said. “They are very intrigued by what the United States has done with farmer-owned entities and our progress in rural development, and they hope to accomplish similar goals in Japan.”

While in Japan, Tolman also participated in a meeting of major food and industrial corn importers arranged by the U.S. Grains Council office in Japan. Tolman shared information on U.S. corn production forecasts and supply and listened to the traders’ interests and concerns about U.S.-Japan corn trade. Japan is the Unites States’ largest corn export customer.