The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) participated in the 2024 Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and Bioethanol Summit in Tokyo this week, where leaders in industry, policy, and education gathered to discuss Japan’s commitment to biofuels and sustainable aviation fuel. USGC President and CEO Ryan LeGrand, along with senior representatives from USGC, joined the summit, which was opened by U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emmanuel.
"SAF is the next frontier for decarbonizing the transportation sector, and there is a real appetite from airlines, global governments and consumers to adopt SAF sooner rather than later," said LeGrand. "Our role at the summit is to understand this demand and position the U.S. ethanol industry to play a pivotal role in meeting it."
Japanese climate action goals and their SAF roadmap were central topics, with Hajime Wakuda from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry delivering a keynote on the country’s commitment to aviation decarbonization. Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor highlighted the U.S. ethanol industry’s potential to support global climate goals, while Mitsubishi’s Saburou Takeuchi provided insight into Japan's biofuel policies and future demand for sustainable fuels.
Discussions spanned Japan’s SAF policy, regional feedstock requirements, and advancements in carbon capture. USGC’s Mark Ingebretson led a session on the alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) pathway, discussing commercial applications and consumer expectations for climate-friendly travel. LeGrand also moderated a panel focused on biofuel policy advancements in Japan and the Philippines, expanding attention to the broader Asian market for ethanol.
“There have been many recent policy successes for the Council across Asia, but I think we are only at the tip of the iceberg in tapping the continent’s full market potential for biofuels,” said LeGrand. "SAF represents the next big step for U.S. ethanol in expanding these markets."
