THE SUCCESS OF THE BRAZILIAN ALCOHOL PROGRAM (PROÁLCOOL) - A DECADE-BY-DECADE BRIEF HISTORY OF ETHANOL IN BRAZIL

Rubismar Stolf,Ana Paula Rodrigues de Oliveira

doi:10.1590/1809-4430-eng.agric.v40n2p243-248/2020

Rubismar Stolf, Ana Paula Rodrigues de Oliveira

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1809-4430-eng.agric.v40n2p243-248/2020

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Abstract

The National Alcohol Program (Proálcool) was a strategic policy of the Brazilian government to replace petroleum-based fuels with alcohol (ethanol). Based on the review, we can choose the 1960s as a start point for a leap in development. Over the 500 years of sugarcane history in Brazil, the crop enters the second decade of the 21st century with extraordinary strength and prestige, reaching its highest production in history. This made Brazil a leader in sugar and ethanol productions worldwide, with an energy-independent agribusiness. Moreover, effluents and polluting wastes were transformed into high-value inputs (e.g., vinasse, filter cake, and others). Environmentally friendly actions included developing organic cane production technology, ceasing sugarcane field burning, relocating workers from field cutting activities, reducing atmospheric CO2 emissions. Besides, Brazilian agribusiness has led the search for the “philosopher's stone,” that is, transforming pulp or bagasse (polysaccharides) into fermentable sugar for second-generation ethanol production. This paper aimed to present the history and development of the Proálcool Program from decade to decade, as well as showing the actions that led Brazil to assume such significant leadership. This survey highlights the roles of the government, through the Sugar and Alcohol Institute, and of the agronomist Dr Gilberto Miller Azzi, who lent his name to the central building of the Center for Agricultural Sciences - UFSCar's Araras campus.

Highlights

The history of the Brazilian Alcohol Program (Proálcool) was a saga of outstanding achievements, and it has been told and retold several times by countless authors (Belik, 1985; Rodrigues, 2003; Bertelli et al, 2006; Biodielselbr, 2006, Vieira et al, 2007, Michellon et al, 2008, Gordinho, 2010, Porto, 2010; Figueiredo et al, 2011, Vieira et al, 2011, Pastelli, 2014, Stolf & Oliveira, 2016). All of these narratives are true since the history of the program allows for a many-sided approach, which can not be tied to a single thread in the timeline
Over time there were a lot of repeated, omitted, and new facts, as well as new characters and interpretations, what has given color, flavor, and substance to record and enrich such a feat of great magnitude. All of these manifestations do form the history of Proálcool and are not just records
This paper aims to present, in a timeline, the evolution of the Proálcool program, decade by decade

Summary

Introduction

The history of the Brazilian Alcohol Program (Proálcool) was a saga of outstanding achievements, and it has been told and retold several times by countless authors (Belik, 1985; Rodrigues, 2003; Bertelli et al, 2006; Biodielselbr, 2006, Vieira et al, 2007, Michellon et al, 2008, Gordinho, 2010, Porto, 2010; Figueiredo et al, 2011, Vieira et al, 2011, Pastelli, 2014, Stolf & Oliveira, 2016). Over time there were a lot of repeated, omitted, and new facts, as well as new characters and interpretations, what has given color, flavor, and substance to record and enrich such a feat of great magnitude All of these manifestations do form the history of Proálcool and are not just records.

Objectives

Conclusion