Panama City, Panama. — Government authorities, international organizations, representatives from the energy and agribusiness sectors, companies, and industry leaders from across the Americas gathered in Panama City on September 29 and 30 for the III Pan-American Liquid Biofuels Summit, held under the theme “Decarbonizing the Land, Skies, and Seas.”
Organized by the Pan-American Liquid Biofuels Coalition (CPBIO), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), and the Panamanian Association of Sugar and Alcohol Producers (AZUCALPA), the Summit brought together representatives from various sectors to discuss the current state and future of liquid biofuels and their contribution to the energy transition and transportation decarbonization across the Americas.
Over the course of the two-day event, participants addressed the main challenges and opportunities for the development of biofuels in the region, with particular emphasis on their application in land, maritime, and air transportation. Topics discussed included the development of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), regulatory frameworks, sustainability standards, certification, financing, infrastructure, and the conditions required to develop new value chains associated with renewable fuels.
The opening session featured Mario Rodríguez, Vice President of AZUCALPA, who participated in the institutional opening of the event alongside representatives of IICA, the Government of Panama, and other regional leaders.
As part of the Summit, Agustín Torroba, IICA Specialist in Biofuels and Renewable Energy and Executive Secretary of CPBIO, highlighted the need to establish conditions that can accelerate the transition toward sustainable aviation fuels and attract long-term investment for the development of the sector.
UNALA Participates in the Regional Dialogue on Biofuels
Representing UNALA — The Association of Latin American Sugar Producers, its Executive Director, Luis Fernando Salazar Rosas, served as moderator of the panel “Agroindustrial Value Chains for SAF, Maritime, and Land Transportation.” The panel brought together Saulo Delgado, representing UNICA; Andrés Felipe García, Director of Sustainability and Market Access at Fedepalma; Gustavo Idígoras, President of the Argentine Chamber of the Oilseed Industry; and Manuel Ron, President of MAIZAL.
During his participation, Luis Fernando Salazar Rosas emphasized the importance of biofuel programs for the development of rural areas across the region. He also highlighted that biofuels can be produced sustainably without compromising food production.
UNALA’s participation reaffirms the importance of incorporating the perspective of the Latin American sugar industry into the regional dialogue on energy, sustainability, and biofuels, at a time when bioethanol and other renewable fuels are gaining increasing relevance within decarbonization strategies.
The Summit also provided an opportunity to strengthen the exchange of experiences among countries and sectors, promoting a regional perspective on the regulatory, technological, and production challenges that must be addressed to advance the development of liquid biofuels in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The next edition of the Pan-American Liquid Biofuels Summit will be held in Uruguay in 2027, continuing this regional forum focused on the development of liquid biofuels and their contribution to the energy transition.
