USGC Chairman Miller hits the road to promote U.S. ethanol and feed grains

BY U.S. GRAINS COUNCIL STAFF

Indiana farmer and U.S. Grains Council Chairman Josh Miller traveled to Seoul, South Korea in April to participate at the Seoul Mobility Show. Miller was present at the Council’s booth along with staff from the Council’s Korean
office to share the benefits of U.S. bioethanol with show visitors, and local press, government and ethanol stakeholders in the country.

“Josh’s visit to the mobility show received great attention from major media as well as the
organizers of the Seoul Mobility Show, and his interviews and meetings with the organizer and Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy not only helped the Korea office promote bioethanol, but also created an opportunity to discuss future cooperation with the Korean government,” said Haksoo Kim, USGC director in South Korea.

Additionally, staff used this year’s event to focus on urging the government’s pilot bioethanol supply project to proceed successfully according to the biofuel expansion plan announced by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy in October 2022, while publicizing the necessity of introducing an ethanol RFS policy.

“I’m happy to have been able to support our Korea office and represent the Council at such an influential event for Korean importers and end-users,” Miller said. “Ethanol is the most realistic and effective carbon reduction solution today, and the Council’s staff worldwide is working to increase knowledge and usage of this versatile product.”

While at the show, Miller helped the Korean office with their promotion of U.S. ethanol and feed grains, particularly highlighting corn and distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS).

Miller had the opportunity to meet with the new chairman of the Korea Feed Association and the Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy and emphasized the need to introduce ethanol and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) polices to nearly 10 major Korean media outlets. Miller also met with the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Seoul officials to discuss Korea’s corn, DDGS and ethanol markets.

The Council’s Korean office is planning to expand its target not only to automobile ethanol but also to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) this year. In July, the Council will host a climate crisis and ethanol symposium jointly with FAS Seoul and the Automobile Journalists Association to urge the Korean government to introduce policies on SAF and
automobile ethanol.

Subsequently, the Council will work to accelerate the introduction of ethanol and SAF policies by the Korean
government through the Global Ethanol Summit in Washington, D.C., this year.