EU beet growers say no to more Brazilian ethanol quota under Mercosur deal

In Belgium, as the next round of EU-Mercosur negotiations ramp up, European sugarbeet growers have voiced their demand that additional sugar and ethanol access for Brazil not be included in the agreement. As the ethanol sector faces uncertainty with the European Commission phasing out crop-based biofuels, it doesn’t want any additional competition from Brazil through set aside quotas. The end of the sugarbeet quota policy this year will pressure beet producers selling for both sugar and ethanol.