Q. Consider the following statements:
Statement I: Of the two major ethanol producers in the world, i.e., Brazil and the United States of America, the former produces more ethanol than the latter.
Statement II: Unlike in the United States of America where corn is the principal feedstock for ethanol production, sugarcane is the principal feedstock for ethanol production in Brazil.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Statement I is incorrect: The United States is the largest producer of ethanol in the world, consistently accounting for over 50% of global ethanol production in recent years.
For example, In 2024, the U.S. produced approximately 16.2 billion gallons of ethanol, accounting for about 52% of global production. In contrast, Brazil produced around 8.78 billion gallons, representing 28% of global output. Thus, the United States produces nearly twice as much ethanol as Brazil.
Statement II is correct: In the United States, ethanol is primarily produced from corn, which is abundantly cultivated in the Midwest and forms the backbone of the American ethanol industry.
In contrast, Brazil produces most of its ethanol from sugarcane, which is well-suited to its tropical climate. Sugarcane-based ethanol is considered more energy-efficient and has a lower carbon footprint compared to corn-based ethanol.
Hence, Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct
Source: https://ethanolrfa.org/markets-and-statistics/annual-ethanol-production
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