The U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council brought ethanol industry leaders from Mexico and Latin America to the Renewable Fuels Association's National Ethanol Conference 2026 in Orlando, FL, last week.
The conference featured founders of the modern ethanol industry sharing how the fuel has transformed rural America. Experts provided updates on renewable fuels policy, year-round E15 blending possibilities, global trade, carbon markets and biofuels applications in aviation and maritime fuels.
Council staff from Washington, D.C., Mexico City and Panama City offices connected customers and industry officials to U.S. producers to learn about U.S. biofuels quality and benefits.
"Inviting journalists to NEC was also a point of emphasis, to provide them with more knowledge about the benefits of E10 implementation in Mexico, and to be able to transmit that information to key audiences in the country," said Galo Galeana, USGBC ethanol consultant.
The Latin America delegation included stakeholders from the automotive and motorcycle sectors. The event facilitated technical discussions and networking to help participants understand ethanol-gasoline blend performance and benefits.
USGBC Latin America Ethanol Strategy Lead Federico Salcedo participated in a panel discussion about expanding worldwide ethanol demand. He said the Council's outreach responds to growing interest in reliable, high-performance lower-carbon fuels that can be integrated into existing vehicle fleets.
The Council's objectives include lifting the ethanol ban in Mexico's three largest cities and promoting harmonization of Mexican gasoline specifications with U.S. regulatory standards, with the broader goal of E10 approval in the country.
