What's New

Ad hoc expert group meeting on Biofuels:
Trade and Development Implications of Present and Emerging Technologies.
Geneva, Room XXVI 10am - 6pm Tuesday, 19th June 2007

While current biofuel technology is rather straightforward and well understood, R&D is shifting the sector to more sophisticated processes needed to meet the increasing demand for biofuel, maximize feedstock use, reduce pressure on land and diminish production costs. Experts will discuss the potential risks and opportunities of this technology and its implications for the trade, development and competitiveness of the biofuel sector, with particular attention to the impact on developing countries.

More information

UNCTAD Intergovernmental Expert Meeting on BioFuels, 30 November 2006, Geneva

As part of the UNCTAD intergovernmental Expert Meeting on the "Participation of Developing Countries in New Dynamic Sectors of World Trade: Review of the Energy Sector" held on 29-30 November and 1 December 2006 at Palais des Nations, Geneva, a full day was dedicated to biofuels on 30 November 2006. The session will address the following issues:
1) trade, development and regulatory aspects of the emerging biofuels market;
2) economic diversification and food security concerns, including possible synergy and complementarities between the energy and agricultural sectors;
3) investment needs for biofuel and feedstock production and the possible role of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) under the Kyoto Protocol as financing instrument; and
4) technological aspects of biofuels, with special emphasis on developing countries' access to present and forthcoming bioenergy.

More information