Fidel Castro opposes ethanol production from food sources, but is careful not to alienate Brazil

October 2007

Despite Cuba's own steps to revive its crippled sugar industry by switching to ethanol production, Fidel Castro has been quite vocal in his criticism of "the sinister idea of converting food into fuel"[1]. The ailing president's censure was aimed mainly at United States production of biofuels extracted from corn and soybean, but a shadow of disapproval has stretched over to Cuba's friend and ally, Brazil. Since his major surgeries in late July 2006, Fidel has stepped back to serve as only an ideological figurehead, handing over all presidential responsibilities to his brother Raúl while the elder Castro recovers. Although there are doubts as to whether Fidel will ever be well enough to regain power, Raúl, now the acting president, pays heed to his brother's opinions and seconds Fidel's censure of biofuels made from food products[2].

The elder comandante's opposition to biofuels stems from his insistence that the demand for "corn...wheat, sunflower seeds, rapeseed and other foods for fuel production" has driven up the prices for these commodities, and is bound to do so further as more vehicles are able to support biofuels. Facing higher prices for staple foods, people in developing countries will be unable to pay for them, argued Castro in an article published in the state-run Granma International, thereby "killing the poor masses through hunger"[3]. Fidel further predicted the devastation of forest land in the drive to cultivate any and all available space where such cash crops could grow. Thus, he argued that using biofuels, though intended to benefit the environment, would in fact leave the world with "not a single tree…left to defend humanity from climate change"[4]. Raúl supported his brother's statements in a speech in July, cataloguing the increase of basic food supply products, and blaming this price hike directly on US biofuel efforts[5].

As the second largest supplier of biofuels after the US, Fidel's disapproving comments touch Brazil as well. Although the aging revolutionary voices disapproval of Brazil's ethanol policies, particularly its recent agreements with the US to promote ethanol use and production, he is careful to tread lightly to avoid offending Cuba's mammoth, left-leaning southern ally. Castro clarified his position in a later edition of "Reflections of the Commander in Chief", explaining that, despite his censure, "It is not [his] intention to hurt Brazil or to meddle in the internal affairs of this great country"[6].

Brazil, though not about to change its stance on ethanol, nor apologize for it, reciprocates his care to avoid offense. Celso Amorim, Brazil's foreign minister, was sure to temper his response to Fidel's remarks by calling the recovering Cuban president a "respectable and historically important figure," even though the elder Castro's opinions regarding biofuels are "outdated"[7]. Amorim then proceeded to claim that "even Cuba would very much benefit from the world ethanol market"[8].

Many Cubans, in fact, agree with Amorim that the island should begin producing ethanol- and, indeed, it is taking steps to do so. Sugar production has suffered greatly in the past 15 years due to falling world sugar prices, an end to guaranteed Soviet purchases, and adverse weather conditions. Cuban sugar output has fallen from 8 million raw tons in 1990 to 1.2 million raw tons in 2005[9]. Despite another poor harvest caused by unseasonably warm and damp weather conditions, an increase in world prices due to ethanol demand is leading the Cuban government to put more land into cultivation and reopen several sugar processing plants. The Sugar Ministry reported that there was 28 percent more cane produced in 2007 than in the 2005 harvest, and announced plans to increase output by 32 percent, from 1.2 million tons to around 1.6 million tons, through improved mill operations[10].

Cuba's focus is not solely on increasing sugar cane output, however. It is also working to modernize its ethanol-making capabilities. According to Conrado Moreno, a member of Cuba's Academy of Sciences, Cuba plans to upgrade 11 of its 17 sugar refineries, which currently produce up to 47 million gallons of ethanol from sugar cane annually[11].

The elder Castro's criticism of Brazilian ethanol production is not as hypocritical as it may sound, however. Cuban ethanol production and Brazilian ethanol production have some very important differences. Due to Fidel's (and, therefore, Raúl's) determined opposition to the use of food products for fuel, ethanol (which is one type of alcohol that can be used for fuel) is extracted only from bagasse, the plant matter that is left behind as waste after sugar is extracted. Indeed, Castro took care to announce that alcohol was only produced from Cuban sugarcane "as a by-product of the sugar industry after having made three extractions of sugar from cane juice"[12]. Cuban ethanol production, therefore, ensures that all food materials are removed and used as such before producing any form of alcohol. This, to the relief of the Cuban economy, serves as a Castro-friendly ethanol loophole. Brazilian refineries, on the other hand, are more flexible in which parts of the sugar cane they use and often shift the percentages of sugar, potable alcohol, and ethanol they produce to take advantage of the highest international market values[13].

Another difference between the two is that Cuban ethanol cannot yet be used as fuel in cars, which is a dominant use of Brazilian ethanol. Cuban sugar refineries currently only produce sugarcane alcohol for use in rum and other liquors, medications, or cooking purposes. However, present limitations notwithstanding, when asked about the possibility of producing ethanol for use in cars, Moreno answered, "in four or five years, we'll see"[14].

Despite Fidel Castro's opposition to using the entirety of the sugarcane plant to produce ethanol, rather than solely the waste product, he is unwilling to come out too strongly against his ally, Brazil. Nonetheless, he is making moves that will surely limit Brazil's ethanol influence in other Latin American countries. Cuban officials recently signed an agreement with their Venezuelan counterparts to cooperate on the construction of 11 new ethanol plants in Venezuela, sharing technology and promoting local sugar production[15]. Venezuela, despite its large petroleum reserves, is pushing efforts to make its fuel more green-friendly and sustainable. With plans to make its automotive fuel with 8% ethanol, Venezuela has an incentive to produce its own biofuel, rather than import it from Brazil[16]. Although not meant to threaten Brazil's relations with Venezuela, Cuba's role in stimulating Venezuelan ethanol production would severely limit or even end their need for the Brazilian import.

Fidel Castro and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva may not see eye to eye on ethanol, but for now they have more incentive to maintain friendly relations in an increasingly polarizing region than to make mountains out of molehills. It may even happen that as Cuba shows ambitions to increase its ethanol production, Castro might turn to Brazil, the country with the most advanced ethanol-producing technology, for some advice.

Author: Danielle Barav

[1] Castro, Fidel. "More Than Three Billion People in the World Condemned to Premature Death from Hunger and Thirst." Granma. 28 March, 2007. http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2007/marzo/juev29/14reflex.html
[2] Castro, Raúl. "Speech by the First Vice-President of the Councils of State and Ministers, Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, at the main celebration of the 54th Anniversary of the attack on Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes Garrisons, at the Major General Ignacio Agramonte Loynaz Revolution Square in the city of Camagüey. July 26th, 2007, "Year 49 of the Revolution." Granma Diario. 27 July, 2007. http://www.granma.cubaweb.cu/2007/07/27/nacional/artic01.html
[3] Castro, Fidel. "More Than Three Billion People in the World Condemned to Premature Death from Hunger and Thirst." Granma. 28 March, 2007. http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2007/marzo/juev29/14reflex.html
[4] Castro, Fidel. "More Than Three Billion People in the World Condemned to Premature Death from Hunger and Thirst." Granma. 28 March, 2007. http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2007/marzo/juev29/14reflex.html
[5] Castro, Raúl. "Speech by the First Vice-President of the Councils of State and Ministers, Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, at the main celebration of the 54th Anniversary of the attack on Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes Garrisons, at the Major General Ignacio Agramonte Loynaz Revolution Square in the city of Camagüey. July 26th, 2007, "Year 49 of the Revolution." Granma Diario. 27 July, 2007. http://www.granma.cubaweb.cu/2007/07/27/nacional/artic01.html
[6] Castro, Fidel. "The Internationalization of Genocide." Granma. 3 April, 2007. http://embacu.cubaminrex.cu/Default.aspx?tabid=3333
[7] Sequera, Vivian. "Brazil: Castro's Biofuel Criticisms Old." International Business Times. 29 March, 2007. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20070329/gen-brazil-cuba-biofuels.htm
[8] Sequera, Vivian. "Brazil: Castro's Biofuel Criticisms Old." International Business Times. 29 March, 2007. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20070329/gen-brazil-cuba-biofuels.htm
[9] Frank, Mark. "Weather, slow repairs hamper Cuban sugar harvest." Reuters. 19 February, 2007. http://uk.reuters.com/article/marketsNewsUS/idUKN1936082820070219?pageNumber=2
[10] Frank, Mark. "Weather, slow repairs hamper Cuban sugar harvest." Reuters. 19 February, 2007. http://uk.reuters.com/article/marketsNewsUS/idUKN1936082820070219?pageNumber=2
[11] Rodriguez, Andrea. "Cuba to modernize its ethanol production." The Boston Globe. 22 May, 2007. [Source]
[12] Castro, Fidel. "More Than Three Billion People in the World Condemned to Premature Death from Hunger and Thirst." Granma. 28 March, 2007. http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2007/marzo/juev29/14reflex.html
[13] Lynch, David J. "Brazil Hopes to Build on its Ethanol Success." USA Today. 28 March, 2006. http://www.usatoday.com/money/world/2006-03-28-brazil-ethanol-cover_x.htm
[14] Rodriguez, Andrea. "Cuba to modernize its ethanol production." The Boston Globe. 22 May, 2007. [Source]
[15] Grogg, Patricia. "Cuba-Venezuela: Making Biofuels without Wasting Food." Inter Press Service. 7 May, 2007. http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=36823
[16] Grogg, Patricia. "Cuba-Venezuela: Making Biofuels without Wasting Food." Inter Press Service. 7 May, 2007. http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=36823