Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture

Agriculture Biofuels

Aviation industry underscores the need for public policies to guarantee investments and enable agriculture in the Americas to achieve its potential for biofuel production

Tiempo de lectura: 3 mins.

This was one of the ideas expressed by the CEO of the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA), José Ricardo Botelho, at the Pan-American Liquid Biofuels Summit held at the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) in Costa Rica.

El Director Ejecutivo y CEO de ALTA, José Ricardo Botelho, afirmó que la gran mayoría de los insumos requeridos para elaborar combustibles sostenibles de aviación existen en los países de hemisferio.

San Jose, 31 March 2023 (IICA). Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) must guarantee greater investment in research and establish public policies to fully develop its sustainable aviation fuel industry. This will enable the region to capitalize on its potential and become a global leader in the production of these clean energies, thanks to its agriculture sector’s high capacity to supply the raw materials required for this purpose.
 
At the Fuel and Environment Conference of the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA), held at the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) as part of the Pan-American Liquid Biofuels Summit, ALTA Executive Director and CEO José Ricardo Botelho stated that the vast majority of inputs required to produce sustainable aviation fuel (biojet) are available in the countries of the hemisphere.
 
These raw materials include oils and fats, sugars and starches, and lignocellulosic material, for which the agriculture sector can play a leading role as a supplier.
 
“The role that agriculture plays in this process is extremely important”, noted Botelho. “The region possesses most of the inputs but lacks the requisite public policies. Now is the time to establish these policies in a technical manner that would allow for developing the industry and attracting the right investments”, added the ALTA executive.
 
The opening of the conference was attended by IICA Director General Manuel Otero, who stressed the fact that “the Institute stands ready to build bridges with the regional aviation industry and foster innovation in this area, in which agriculture of the Americas has tremendous potential”.
 
Along those lines, Botelho remarked that, “in order to continue advancing towards the ambitious goals set, it is crucial to coordinate efforts between the public and private sectors. Latin America and the Caribbean has the potential to lead the production of sustainable aviation fuel around the globe”.
 
The full interview with ALTA’s CEO is available here.

More information:
Institutional Communication Division.
comunicacion.institucional@iica.int

 

Share

Related news​

México

October 8, 2025

Gisela Illescas Palma, a rural leader enamored with the countryside and a promoter of sustainable development and a unique coffee brand, is named an IICA Leader of Rurality of the Americas

Illescas stands out for her work aimed at driving the development of dozens of farming families in her region, her efforts to defend rural women’s rights, and her passion for the land and coffee, which serves as an inspiration for others.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins

Delegados y autoridades agrícolas durante la Semana de la Agricultura del Caribe (CWA), en San Cristóbal y Nieves, participando en la firma de acuerdos y fortalecimiento de la cooperación regional para enfrentar la peste porcina africana y mejorar la sanidad agropecuaria.

Basseterre, San Cristóbal y Nievas

October 3, 2025

IICA Director General calls for deeper solidarity and joint action in the Caribbean in the face of African swine fever, which threatens the livelihoods of farmers and their families

Regional solidarity and coordinated action among countries are indispensable to address the threat of African swine fever, which, if it were to spread in the Caribbean, could have devastating consequences, stated IICA Director General Manuel Otero during Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA).

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins

Basseterre, San Cristóbal y Nieves

October 3, 2025

Argentina Deepens Agricultural Cooperation with the Caribbean at CWA 2025

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins