ADM Outlines Strategy for BioEnergy Growth; CARD Report Projects 31.5B Gallons of Corn Ethanol Possible by 2015
08 November 2006
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| ADM sees the potential demand for ethanol (E10 nationwide) outstripping current and announced production capacity. Click to enlarge. |
Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) outlined its strategy to be the global leader in bioenergy while expanding its premier position in the agricultural processing value chain during its Analyst Day Meeting today in Chicago.
According to ADM CEO Patricia Woertz, the company has identified three strategic areas offering the highest potential for significant financial growth: expansion of its geographic scope, diversification of its feedstocks and growth of the bioenergy business.
Woertz announced that ADM is considering expanding its origination presence in palm in Indonesia, sugar in Brazil and other carbohydrates around the world for the production of biofuels.
ADM reaffirmed its commitment to the future of ethanol and to investment in research and development surrounding feedstocks like biomass crops. The company projects that one out of every 12 pounds of vegetable oil production will go to biodiesel production by 2015 and that world oilseed crush will have to grow 50% by 2015 to meet demand for food and fuel.
Already announced plans include expansion of biodiesel production capacity in the United States, Brazil and Germany, as well as a 50% increase in US ethanol production capacity. ADM also previously announced plans to open a PHA natural plastics plant and a polyols facility.
Separately, a report by the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD) at Iowa State University projects that US corn-based ethanol production could potentially reach 31.5 billion gallons annually—about 20% of projected US fuel consumption—by 2015, given the current incentives to invest in corn-based ethanol plants. Ethanol production in 2006 is tracking to 4.7 billion gallons. (Earlier post.)
To reach 31.5 billion gallons of corn ethanol, 95.6 million acres of corn would need to be planted. Total corn production would be approximately 15.6 billion bushels, compared to 11.0 billion bushels today. Most of the additional corn acres would come, in the CARD scenario, from reduced soybean acreage.
Resources:
Enzyme/biologial process based producers could get usurped by gasifiers. Corn's position could get upended by biomass crops, and agri/forestry waste.
Posted by: allen_Z | 08 November 2006 at 02:54 PM
How can this be? I thought all the geniuses on this site said that even if you planted every acre of farmland with corn, you would only be able to supplant maybe 10% of our gas consumption.
Well in 8 short years, the projections are 20% of total gas consumption, and not with all of our farmland, but only with about a 40% increase in corn acreage.
Can it be that technology will continue to improve? NOT POSSIBLE!!!! ;-)
Posted by: SuperAROD | 09 November 2006 at 08:12 AM
As noted in the project link:
These results should not be viewed as a prediction of what will eventually materialize.
Is it possible that ADM sponsored this ISU "study"?
Posted by: fyi CO2 | 09 November 2006 at 08:26 AM
Genetically modified hybrid corn+improved plants&ops. Much of the land is geared towards grain for beef production.
http://egj.lib.uidaho.edu/egj09/palmer1.html
Posted by: allen_Z | 09 November 2006 at 10:52 AM
Check out these reports. All this demand for corn ethanol is driving the market way up .
Posted by: allen_Z | 10 November 2006 at 08:57 PM
The heck with corn, gasify the corn stalks.
Posted by: SJC | 12 November 2006 at 03:09 PM
SJC,
Better yet, sweet sorghum can provide stalks (8.8-13 tons/acre/year) for BTL, and sugars for ethanol. Tobacco, grown for biomass not smoking, would be as good, if not better.
Posted by: allen_Z | 14 November 2006 at 02:34 PM