Biofuel production in the USA

While Brazil paved the path for crop-based ethanol production during a period of three decades, the USA has effectively copied elements of existing biofuel policies and implemented them in their own agricultural production model. In the span of a few years, the USA has demonstrated that it is able to set policies in place and develop the necessary infrastructure to produce, trade, and consume ethanol nationwide without too many problems. This process has been driven by huge support. Still, it is a remarkable achievement. By doing so, the USA has profited from its scientific, economic, and industrial basis in agriculture and research and its capacity for production chain development. Even more remarkable is the fact that the USA has been able to surpass Brazil as the largest ethanol exporter, although it must be said that it was helped by adverse cropping conditions (droughts affecting crop yields) in Brazil and special conditions on the world market (high sugar prices tempted Brazil to convert its cane to sugar rather than into ethanol).