The bioenergy system industry in Brazil has gained prominence in recent decades, especially with regard to ethanol production. The country stands out worldwide as one of the main producers and exporters of this biofuel, driven by a combination of favorable natural, technological and political factors.

A few months ago I had the honor of writing for this relevant publication about the importance of bioenergy in the development of the State of Mato Grosso. I defended that the production of bioenergy is a right and safe path for the resumption of industrial growth and, consequently, for the economic development of the country. With a worldwide demand for clean energy from renewable sources, the outlook for the bioenergy sector is very positive.

In this new article, I will address another aspect that is still little known by society about the bioenergy sector : how the segment has contributed to the growth of the world's meat supply, without increasing the pasture area. At first, for those not used to the subject, this topic seems to make no sense. But "let's start at the beginning" to explain this.

Brazil has a long history of producing ethanol from sugarcane. Started in the 1970s, as a response to the oil crisis, the Brazilian ethanol industry has undergone significant transformations over the years. Currently, it is the second largest producer of ethanol in the world, behind only the United States.

The main raw material used for the production of ethanol in Brazil is sugarcane, whose production is concentrated in the Center-South region of the country. This choice is based on the high productivity of the crop and its energy efficiency. In addition, the favorable climate and technological advances in the sector boosted production, improved with the efficiency of the manufacturing process.

The Brazilian ethanol industry has several competitive advantages compared to other producing countries. Among them is our sugarcane raw material, one of the best for the production of biofuel, since it has a high sucrose content, which makes the conversion process more efficient in relation to other crops.

We are the world's largest producer of ethanol from sugarcane. But from 2012, the scenario began to change with Brazil also producing ethanol from corn. For Mato Grosso, this was revolutionary, especially in the last five years.

We have this raw material in abundance in our state. Brazil is the only place in the world that grows two crops on the same land, soybeans and corn. Right after the oilseed is removed, the cereal is planted.

Ethanol industries today are no longer just ethanol producers. They produce, at the same time, several other valuable products.

Nowadays, everything that was previously called “waste” is transformed into a new product, being used and sold commercially. And that's where Distillery Dry Grains come in, a co-product from the processing of corn to obtain ethanol, which is increasingly popular in the diet of cattle in Brazil.

Unlike corn bran, Dry Distillery Grains are high in protein and energy, they are a valuable source of nutrition for livestock. The production of this highly nutritious food started in the state in 2015 and has been growing. In the 2023 and 2024 harvest, we produced 9.3 million tons of Dry Distillery Grains in Mato Grosso. 

In this same period, from 2015 to 2024, the increase in herd productivity increased, at the same time that the pasture area decreased. Herd numbers grew by 6%, while pasture area shrank by 17%. Meanwhile, productivity (kilogram of carcass per hectare) increased by 24%.

Another very interesting data is the relationship between the average age of slaughter and the weight of the animals. In 2015, the slaughter of cattle aged less than 24 months was 2% of total production. Today this index, which also impacts the quality of the meat, reaches 22%.

Producers have invested in confinement, using Dry Distillery Grains from bioenergy plants to feed these animals, making them fatten more quickly and freeing up pasture areas for agricultural production.

Therefore, it is with great pride that we say that Brazilian ethanol is the most sustainable fuel that exists, as it has low carbon dioxide emissions and also contributes to increasing the food supply and reducing the pasture area, freeing up for other activities and reducing chances of opening new areas.

The bioenergy system industry in Brazil, focused on ethanol production, has a solid position in the global market, driven by its competitive advantages and the efficient use of its raw materials. The Brazilian ethanol sector has invested in technology and research, seeking improvements in productivity.



With decades of experience, the country has developed a solid infrastructure, including modern plants, efficient transport systems, a well-established logistics chain and we can be proud to defend, anywhere in the world, that this is the fuel of the green, of the present and of the future. Our energy moves the world and now it also helps to feed the planet.