How the World Cooks

Boris Atanassov is the founding director of GreenLight Africa, a regional consultancy firm with a base in Mozambique and specializing in energy and environment. He has over 14 years of experience in research, project management and business development. Boris holds a Master of Science from Stockholm University specializing in Energy Transition, focusing Renewable Energy, Bio-energy, Climate Financing and Market Development as well as Social and Environmental Impact Assessment. He has strong experience in developing feasibility studies, market research, policy analysis, institutional capacity building, developing business plans and managing projects within the mentioned fields.

Today we are coming to our final continent in our travels around the world, looking at bioethanol production, policies, and potential, and we are landing in Africa.  We are going to have a more personal look at Mozambique, where GreenLight is based, as a representative view of Africa, but we will also hear about the continent as a whole and what bioethanol production and use currently look like.  We will hear about countries that have begun implementing bioethanol and what the potential for expansion could look like across transportation and cooking sectors, as well as the three key elements in really helping the industry develop.  Join us as we head to Africa to look at clean fuels!

Tony Leiding is the President of Trenton Agri Products LLC in Trenton, Nebraska.  Prior to entering the renewable fuels industry, he was a Captain in the United States Army.  During his time in the Army, he was a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter pilot and did tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan.  He holds a degree in Finance from Iowa State University, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Mary, and a Master of Science in Energy Management from the University of Colorado.  He is currently the President of Renewable Fuels Nebraska and is a Board Member and serves on the Executive Committee of the Renewable Fuels Association.

Today Tony is going to walk us through what the bioethanol sector looks like in North America.  We will get a crash course on bioethanol production at the plant level, and learn about all of the amazing co-products that are also realized through bioethanol production.  We will also learn about the volumes produced for the North American market, how much of that stays in the country, how much is exported, and where all of the fuel and co-products ultimately end up.  Tony shares his vision for the future of bioethanol in North America and the potential it holds to benefit the rest of the world.  During his service in Afghanistan and Iraq, Tony noticed the pollution caused by cooking practices and poor quality fuels and sees a window of opportunity for bioethanol to impact in these areas as well around the world, creating a better quality of life in emerging markets.  Join us as we explore the biggest bioethanol market in the world, and the opportunity that comes with those markets.

Johan Ullman started his career at Procter & Gamble SA (Geneva), eventually taking on the role of Global Strategy Owner for Ethanol Sourcing. He then transitioned to the trading side of the market, spending close to a decade in the ethanol trading divisions of Cargill and Bunge. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to play a pivotal role in the establishment of Marquis Energy Global in Singapore, where he presently holds the position of Managing Director and lives with his wife and four children.

In this episode we tackle the enormous continent of Asia, and provide a high level overview of what bioethanol use, demand, and future potential looks like for the industry.  Johan will share the importance of understanding global markets and why it was important for Marquis as an American company to have a location based in Asia.  He will touch on the variety across Asia and what feedstocks are used in different regions, as well as how the use of co-products is different than what we might see in North America. 

We will look at some success stories, including the Philippines, and how they have been able to leverage bioethanol for the transportation industry, and how policies have assisted in creating demand across the continent.  And of course, we will hear about the potential for bioethanol clean cooking and how it could fit into both a rural and urban space in Asia as clean fuels become more widely available.

David Carpintero joined ePURE as Director General in June of 2022. Previously, he was Director General for a Brussels-based food trade association and he has a long international experience in the agricultural sector with postings in Europe and America.

ePURE is the united voice of the European renewable ethanol industry and represents their members' interests to the EU institutions, industry stakeholders, the media, and general public. They are partnering with European biorefineries to build a more resilient future in Europe as they reduce carbon emissions, create secure food systems, and ensure energy independence. David is going to guide us as we land in our next global stop learning about bioethanol production around the world and share some insights on the production and market dynamics in Europe. You will hear how bioethanol started in a meaningful way and some important expansion that is in the works. We'll also discuss how ePURE operates and the importance of the organization in the bioethanol sector for the continent.

Join us to learn about ePURE producers, the types of feedstock Europe uses, and the volumes the continent produces. David also comments on the social impact and consumer awareness around bioethanol and how that relates back to using the renewable fuel for cooking around the world, as well as the value that the private sector can add to that transition. Listen in to hear about the nuances of the bioethanol sector in Europe and their vision for a cleaner future.

Hagan Rose grew up surrounded by agriculture, starting out in a small farm community in Central Kentucky, and began his career in biofuels 16 years ago when he joined Eco-Energy in 2007. Over these 16 years, he has worked in commercial roles in the ethanol industry, with a concentration on international supply and trade.

Today, Hagan is Director of Sales and Marketing-International for Eco-Energy, a global leader in ethanol marketing, logistics and distribution. In this position, he coordinates with Eco-Energy’s partner plants and other U.S. ethanol producers to supply fuel grade and industrial grade ethanol to buyers around the world.

We are going to take some time for a series around how bioethanol is actually made in different parts of the world, since that is a critical piece of transitioning households to bioethanol clean cooking technology.  Come along as we listen to Hagan talk about Central and South America and the bioethanol process and feedstocks in that region of the world.  We are going to hear about the primary feedstock, or base material that bioethanol is made from in South America, a high level overview of that process, and a little of the history behind why bioethanol has grown so much in the region within the transportation sector.  Hagan will provide insight on how that market is starting to change and expand, and also his thoughts on whether bioethanol cooking is a viable and practical option for Central and South America.  Come with us as we circumnavigate the globe to learn about the renewable fuel that could change how the world cooks.

Heather Adair-Rohani leads the work on health and energy at the World Health Organization (WHO) Headquarters. She has led the establishment of the Health and Energy Platform of Action (HEPA) and the high level coalition on health and energy. She has also co-led the coordination and development of the WHO guidelines for indoor air quality and household fuel combustion and is currently overseeing the work to support countries in the implementation of these guidelines through the Clean Household Energy Solutions Toolkit. Join us as we speak with Ms. Adair-Rohani about the broader global implications of cooking with polluting fuels and why the WHO has made it a priority to work on. We discuss the impact of health, climate, environment, and gender and how they are interrelated when it comes to household energy. We look at the initiatives the Health and Energy platform are working on and where the gaps still exist in knowledge and awareness, and we hear about the elements that need to be strengthened in order to expedite addressing the challenge of polluting fuels and technologies. Come along and hear about the critical work WHO, HEPA, and their partners are engaged in.

Dr. Megan Benka-Coker is an assistant professor in the Health Sciences Department at Gettysburg College. She has a depth of knowledge and training in global health and environmental epidemiology. As a professor, she uses her experience to teach her students about the important topics surrounding public and global health; Dr. Benka-Coker is also a researcher, focused on addressing the health impacts of household air pollution and the benefits of transitioning to cleaner cook stoves. Join us as we step into her classroom today and hear firsthand what initiated her interest in epidemiology, and some of the personal and research experiences that furthered her passion for clean cooking around the globe. She is also going to discuss particulate matter, its presence in ambient and household air pollution, and the dire health impacts it causes around the world. Studies and research around this topic are important not only for quantitative purposes, but also allows research to help shape policy and demonstrate why health should be included in the global clean cooking conversation.

Hinata Energy Limited is a bioethanol clean cooking business entering the market in Nigeria, led by their CEO Kamal-Deen Kassim. Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa, but 147 million people still rely on polluting fuels for cooking with 70% using biomass and 12% using kerosene. Hinata saw a business opportunity paired with social responsibility when they were able to assume an abandoned cooking project that had previously attempted to start up in the country, and paired that with a recognized need for clean cooking options in the university system. Currently, students aren't able to utilize LPG or electric cookstoves in the tertiary institutions in Nigeria due to explosion or fire risks. Polluting fuels remain the option for students in the dormitories, which is also representative of the communities they live in. Kamal was able to align with partners in Nigeria and form an agreement with the National Board of Technical Education to start deploying 50,000 stoves over 6 geo-political zones over the next several years. Hinata Energy is also building fuel kiosks at each location the stoves are marketed in order to provide access and affordability. As the tertiary institutions support these efforts, not only will students benefit from healthier air in their dorms, but staff, and families in the surrounding communities will also gain exposure and have opportunities to purchase clean stoves and fuel. Listen in as we talk about Kamal's introduction to clean cooking, Hinata's start, their target market and strategy, why bioethanol is such an ideal option for this market, the importance of private sector investment in the sector, and his advice to other businesses starting up in clean energy.

Welcome to How the World Cooks! The energy shift you need to know about.