Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) has partnered with Canada’s largest fuel ethanol producers to launch the Farms and Fuels Alliance (FFA).
The FFA was formed to strengthen Canadian biofuel production, promote fair market opportunities, and sustainable economic growth in rural areas, according to a news release. The FFA is a coalition of the GFO, Greenfield Global Inc. and Alco Energy Canada (formerly IGPC Ethanol Inc.).
“Canada’s ethanol industry is at a critical juncture, and we must ensure that policies reflect the realities and needs of our domestic producers and agricultural partners,” Kevin Norton, CEO of Alco Energy Canada said in the release.
“The Farms and Fuels Alliance will provide a unified voice to advocate for solutions that strengthen our competitiveness, drive investment, and create long-term economic benefits for rural communities.”
FFA’s core mission is to modernize renewable fuels policies, programs and carbon accounting to recognize Canadian innovation and eliminate what it calls “potentially exploitable loopholes” available to non-domestic feedstock and biofuel producers.
The coalition said it will advocate for balanced policies that unleash Canada’s full potential in the ethanol sector while supporting domestic agriculture producers.
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Speaking to Farmtario, GFO’s Director of Government Relations Debra Conlon said “What we want to do is make sure that we have a strong policy environment that helps us build an ethanol business, because we’re pretty lucky that we have what we have right now.”
She noted that with a new administration in the United States, an upcoming Canadian federal election as well as a provincial election, the coalition wants to be prepared for any policy changes that change in leadership may bring.
“The future of biofuel policy in the United States is definitely something that would impact Canadian biofuel production, and I don’t think that anyone knows where that’s going to land at this point,” she said. “Having a good voice together, formalized, helps us look at all of those changes and what they could mean and then be prepared to have a conversation and a singular voice on each one of those issues when we talk to the provincial and federal governments.”
Andrea Kent, Greenfield Global vice president of Industry and Government Affairs, said in the release
“Canada has spent decades building a world-class domestic ethanol industry that delivers strong economic and environmental advantages, but we must remain proactive and focused on growth. Now is the time to safeguard our past achievements and position ourselves for the next chapter – one that ensures policies reflect the full economic potential of homegrown biofuels and stand up in a competitive global landscape.”
With Alco originating in Belgium and Greenfield having operations in Ireland, Conlon said the two organizations would offer a strong international perspective.
“You’ve got three groups with a lot of experience domestically, provincially, Canada-wide, (in) the U.S. and internationally.
“Our focus is on strengthening what we’ve got and building from there to take advantage of the additional corn that we’re producing.”
Jeff Harrison, GFO chair, said he’s excited to collaborate with two of Canada’s top ethanol producers and, through FFA, “ensure farmers’ voices are heard in policy discussions.”
“Canada’s farmers and ethanol producers need policies that help them remain competitive and promote strength in our domestic value chains,” he said.
