Corn to Canada: Indiana’s Ethanol on a Mission

By Anita Sharkey

A U.S. team of individuals recently traveled to Canada to promote the expansion of ethanol blending in the country’s fuel market—a significant opportunity for both U.S. producers and Indiana farmers. Among the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) delegation was Helena Jette, director of market development and biofuels for the Indiana Corn Marketing Council. She joined other industry leaders to discuss how the U.S. can support Canada’s transition to higher ethanol blend rates.

“Canada, the top export market for U.S. ethanol, purchased 590 million gallons in the 2022/2023 marketing year, with an additional surge expected as provinces like Ontario and Quebec prepare to implement E11 and E12 ethanol blends in 2024,” says Jette.“This presents an enormous opportunity for Indiana’s corn farmers, who are critical suppliers of the raw material for ethanol production.”

As Canada pushes for more renewable energy sources to meet its climate goals, Indiana farmers benefit from increased demand for corn used in biofuel.

ICMC’s participation in the meetings with Canadian government officials, including representatives from Environment and Climate Change Canada and Natural Resources Canada, is pivotal in ensuring that U.S. ethanol remains the preferred choice. This also ensures Indiana’s farmers are part of the broader conversation about how ethanol can reduce carbon emissions, mainly as Canada looks toward even more ambitious sustainability goals, such as developing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) facilities.

 “Maintaining and growing domestic markets is just as important as keeping an eye on opportunities for growth potential in international ethanol export markets that benefit Indiana and U.S. farmers,” Jette says. “The U.S. has the capacity to produce about 17 billion gallons of ethanol and Indiana plays a big role in representing about 7 percent of that production. We applaud Canada for growing their ethanol blend rates and welcome higher potential E15 in the future.”

As Canada moves forward with its ethanol initiatives, Indiana’s farmers are poised to be critical contributors, reinforcing their position as both production and innovation leaders.

The trade mission delegation was led by Stephanie Larson, U.S. Grains Council Regional Ethanol Manager for the EU, U.K. and Canada. Larson was joined by Jette and Christopher Malone, vice president of market development for Indigo Ag.