India and Brazil Team Up on Ethanol Production at G20 Meeting
During the G20 Agriculture Ministerial Meeting held on September 12 and 13, 2024, in Cuiaba, Brazil, India and Brazil committed to cooperating on ethanol production technology. A meeting between India’s Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Ram Nath Thakur, and Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Carlos Favaro, took place on September 13.
Both sides discussed cooperation in science and technology, ethanol production, and market access. They expressed hope that the Memorandum of Understanding between ICAR (India) and EMBRAPA (Brazil) would be finalized before the G20 leaders’ meeting in November.
India is seeking access to the Brazilian market for Sorghum, Rapeseed, Cotton, Wheat, Barley, and Onion bulbs, while Brazil is seeking access to the Indian market for Citrus, among other products. Both ministers were optimistic about resolving pending trade issues.
In June 2024, at the 63rd council meeting of the International Sugar Organisation (ISO), India sought support for sustainable practices in sugarcane cultivation, sugar and ethanol production, and better utilization of by-products. India is the third-largest ethanol producer globally, following the USA and Brazil. The ethanol blending percentage in India increased from 5 percent in 2019-20 to 12 percent in 2022-23, with production rising from 173 crore litres to over 500 crore litres during the same period.
Official data shows that in 2022, bilateral trade between India and Brazil grew by 32 percent to USD 15.2 billion. In 2023, India’s exports stood at USD 6.9 billion, with imports at USD 4.7 billion. The Indian delegation, led by Ram Nath Thakur, held bilateral meetings with the USA, Brazil, Germany, the UK, Japan, Spain, and the UAE.
Doubts Revealed
G20 -: The G20 is a group of 20 major economies, including countries like India, the USA, and China. They meet to discuss global economic issues.
Ethanol -: Ethanol is a type of alcohol used as fuel for cars. It can be made from plants like sugarcane and corn.
Ministerial Meeting -: A Ministerial Meeting is a gathering of government ministers from different countries to discuss important topics.
Ram Nath Thakur -: Ram Nath Thakur is India’s Minister of State for Agriculture. He helps make decisions about farming in India.
Carlos Favaro -: Carlos Favaro is Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture. He helps make decisions about farming in Brazil.
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) -: A Memorandum of Understanding is an agreement between two parties to work together on something. It’s not as formal as a contract.
ICAR -: ICAR stands for the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. They do research to improve farming in India.
EMBRAPA -: EMBRAPA is the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation. They do research to improve farming in Brazil.
Citrus -: Citrus fruits include oranges, lemons, and limes. Brazil wants to sell these fruits in India.
Bilateral trade -: Bilateral trade is the exchange of goods between two countries. India and Brazil are trading more with each other.
