Brazilian agriculture has long since evolved beyond supplying food. Today, it also produces clean energy, innovation, and solutions to some of the greatest challenges of the 21st century. Among these solutions, biofuels stand out as a strategic alternative to address climate change and accelerate the global transition to a low-carbon economy.
In a world urgently seeking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the energy transition has become central to national and multilateral agendas. Replacing fossil fuels with (bio)renewable sources is essential to containing global warming. In this context, biofuels offer a concrete response, especially in sectors where electrification is not feasible — such as heavy transport, aviation, and agro-industrial operations.
Brazil began its journey with biofuels back in the 1970s by launching an ambitious ethanol program based on sugarcane, focused at the time in energetic security. Since then, the country has become a global reference, developing a mature, sustainable, and efficient production chain. Biodiesel, introduced in the 2000s, further expanded Brazil’s renewable energy portfolio by leveraging vegetable oils and animal fats. More recently, Brazil has made progress in harnessing agricultural and agroindustrial residues to produce biogas and biomethane — emerging energy solutions with high potential for decentralized use.
With this strong foundation, Brazil is now the world’s second-largest ethanol producer and one of the leaders in biodiesel production. The strength of Brazilian biofuels lies in their deep integration with agriculture: sugarcane, soybeans, corn, and other energy crops coexist with food, fiber, and pastures — delivering productivity, sustainability, and innovation. Previously discarded residues — such as vinasse, filter cake, straw, husks, beef tallow and animal waste — now have renewed purpose as bioenergy inputs, driving circularity and efficiency.
Within this framework, Brazilian agriculture is increasingly recognized not only for its ability to feed the world but also for offering clean energy solutions. This energy vocation is reinforced by modern public policies such as RenovaBio, a system that measures the efficiency and carbon intensity of renewable fuels, sets targets, and promotes environmental and financial recognition through Decarbonization Credits (CBIOs).
Recently, Brazil took another decisive step forward by enacting the Fuel of the Future Law, which establishes a new legal framework for sustainable fuels. This legislation modernizes the regulatory environment, strengthens legal certainty, and officially recognizes the role of first generation biofuels such as ethanol to be used as feedstock for producing advanced biofuels, namely renewable hydrogen, synthetic fuels, and Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) — all of which are key to decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors like aviation and heavy industry.
This new regulatory context opens the door to further growth in Brazil’s production and use of biofuels. Expansion can occur on multiple fronts: increasing domestic processing of feedstocks such as soybeans and maize, which adds value to national production and benefits the animal protein chain; diversifying biomass sources, including species adapted to different biomes such as oil-palm, macaw-palm, canola, sorghum, agave and other native species; raising productivity in established crops like sugarcane, soy, and corn; and reintroducing degraded pasture land into productive systems, with positive environmental and social outcomes.
The decarbonization potential is substantial. A vehicle running on Brazilian ethanol can emit up to 90% less CO₂ than one fueled by gasoline. Biomethane, meanwhile, offers relevant opportunities to replace part of the fossil diesel in the fleet of heavy-duty trucks and farm equipment, as already demonstrated in pilot projects with sugar-energy plants and cooperatives in the South and Central-West, delivering environmental and economic gains. Biofuels can also be used to generate electricity in remote areas, enhancing energy security and rural inclusion.
The growth of so-called advanced biofuels further expands the horizon. Ethanol produced from second-crop maize and second-generation ethanol, derived from sugarcane straw and bagasse, are already a commercial reality. Catalytic and biotechnological pathways are also emerging to produce aviation fuels and convert agricultural residues into high-value molecules. The Embrapa Agroenergy research center is at the forefront of these technologies, working to unlock the potential of diverse biomass sources and boost chemical and biochemical process efficiency.
To make these opportunities a reality, continued investment in research, development, and innovation (RD&I) is essential. Brazil has world-class scientific expertise, but it must ensure that knowledge translates into accessible, scalable solutions suited to its diverse regions. In this context, innovation is the link between potential and actual progress in a sustainable energy transition.
In such a scenario, international partnerships are increasingly strategic — and China stands out as a key partner. With ambitious carbon neutrality goals set for 2060 and a growing demand for clean energy, China has important opportunities to further deploy bioenergy, particularly through the replacement of coal by solid biomass, the increase of transport biofuels as well as biogas to replace natural gas. Therefore, China can benefit to some extent from Brazil’s biofuel solutions. Ethanol exports, cooperation in biotechnology and biogas, and regulatory knowledge exchange are promising avenues.
Brazilian experiences such as RenovaBio and integrated agroenergy production systems can serve as inspiration for solutions tailored to China’s needs. The complementarity between a major agricultural power and one of the world’s largest markets creates ideal conditions to build a robust and lasting partnership, with benefits for both countries and the planet.
More than trade, it’s about building bridges to a shared future. The energy we cultivate today, in Brazil’s farmlands, can power the world tomorrow. By combining applied science, productive sustainability and international cooperation, Brazil strengthens its leadership in the energy transition — with agriculture being the driving force and bioenergy a vector of global transformation — and a partnership with China could mark the beginning of a new, transformative chapter.
Alexandre Alonso Alves
General Director, Embrapa Agroenergy
Bruno Galveas Laviola
Assistant Director of Research and Development, Embrapa Agroenergy