18 November 2008: Alicia Bárcena, Executive Secretary of the
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), launched the
book entitled “Sugarcane-based Bioethanol: Energy for Sustainable Development”
during a side event at an International Conference on Biofuels taking place in
São Paulo, Brazil.

The publication, which was commissioned by Brazilian
President Luis Inácio da Silva, gives an overview of the potential and
limitations of sugarcane ethanol production, and discusses the conditions for
sustainable ethanol production and use as well as the measures for creating a
competitive market for bioethanol while safeguarding food security. The book
launch was followed by a roundtable discussion during which Bárcena explained
that biofuel market development requires comprehensive policies in the energy,
environment, trade finance, agriculture, and industry sectors. She emphasized
that promoting research, development and innovation policies is key to advancing
towards an energy paradigm alternative to fossil fuels of low environmental
impact, and high energy and economic competitiveness.
The book is published
jointly by ECLAC, the Brazilian National Bank for Economic and Social
Development, the Center for Strategic Studies and Management of Brazil, and the
FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean. It contains chapters
on: bioenergy and biofuels; ethanol as vehicle fuel; bioethanol production;
co-products of sugarcane bioethanol; advanced technologies in the sugarcane
agroindustry; sugarcane bioethanol in Brazil; sustainability of sugarcane
bioethanol: the Brazilian experience; perspectives for a global biofuels
market; and outlook for bioethanol fuel. [ECLAC
Press Release] [The
Book]