WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — The two-day Global Ethanol Summit addressed free trade in biofuels and increasing the use of ethanol to achieve environmental, human health and economic benefits during its stint in Washington, D.C., U.S.

The summit was jointly sponsored by the U.S. Grains Council (USGC), Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA).

More than 400 attendees from 60 countries participated in general sessions, panels, networking and heard from industry leaders about the future of global ethanol use.

“Ethanol is a cost-competitive transport fuel that offers long-term, medium-term and short-term benefits to consumers, suppliers and the governments that regulate them. It reduces greenhouse gas emissions and improves human health,” the sponsors said in a joint statement. “It also helps countries offer value-added production opportunities for rural communities.”

The summit gave participants from agriculture, environment and energy ministries from around the world an opportunity to discuss environmental, human health and economic benefits of ethanol use with industry leaders, while it fosters collaboration and trade across the region.

Participants also heard from both the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Deputy Secretary Stephen Censky and Foreign Agricultural Service’s Associate Administrator Daniel Whitley, who spoke on collaboration and trade and U.S. energy industry.

 “From Mexico to Brazil, from Canada to the Philippines, the countries here today are taking the next steps in developing biofuels policies with a role for trade,” the sponsors said. “The enormity of the moment is obvious. This Summit united us in the common cause to make measurable societal change — to decarbonize transport, to reduce particulate matter emissions, to make positive impacts today that will bear opportunity for future generations.”