AGAVE AGAVE: THE MISSING ENERGY CROP México City 2010

2030 CHALLENGES POPULATION: 6.8 Bn today, to 8.3Bn (FAO) FOOD: 2X increase (WB); 50% (UN) WATER: 50% MORE (WB). India 2X more. ENERGY: 44% raise (EIA) CLIMATE CHANGE: Below 2°C; 450ppm (IPCC)

By 2050, biofuels account for 25% of total transport fuel, roughly 90% is 2nd-generation biofuel TRANSPORTATION FUELS

Fossil energy balances of different fuel types Source: Worldwatch Institute 2006

WHY NOT 25%? HIGH COST OF BIOFUELS DRASTIC WATER CONSUMPTION HIGH USE OF NITROGEN, HERBICIDES, PESTICIDES, FUNGICIDES DANGER OF LAND USE CHANGE / DEFORESTATION BIODIVERSITY LOSS FOOD VS FUEL HIGH COST OF BIOFUELS DRASTIC WATER CONSUMPTION HIGH USE OF NITROGEN, HERBICIDES, PESTICIDES, FUNGICIDES DANGER OF LAND USE CHANGE / DEFORESTATION BIODIVERSITY LOSS FOOD VS FUEL

Projected cost of 1 st and 2 nd generation biofuels for the US market Source: EBI, Khanna, M. Second generation biofuel cost assumptions Source: IEA 2008, Energy Technology Perspectives to 2050 Enzimes account for 54% of fermentation cost

Production costs for biodiesel, in main producing countries

WATER AGROCHEMICALS

Are we ready for 50 gallons of water per mile driven? Source:

AGAVE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES Thrives on dry land/marginal land. Most efficient use of soil, water and light. Massive production. Year-around harvesting. Very high yields with very low or no inputs Very high quality biomass and sugars Very low cost of production. Not a commodity, so prices are not volatile Very versatile: biofuels, bioproducts, chemicals World-wide geographical distribution Enhanced varieties are ready Thrives on dry land/marginal land. Most efficient use of soil, water and light. Massive production. Year-around harvesting. Very high yields with very low or no inputs Very high quality biomass and sugars Very low cost of production. Not a commodity, so prices are not volatile Very versatile: biofuels, bioproducts, chemicals World-wide geographical distribution Enhanced varieties are ready

AGAVE -DERIVED FUELS, PRODUCTS, MATERIALS AND CHEMICALS BIOFUELS ETHANOL (DISTILLED AND CELLULOSIC), BIOBUTANOL, BIOMETHANOL, BIOJET FUEL, GREEN GASOLINE, BIOOIL, BIOCRUDE, BIODIESEL, BIOCOAL, BIOCHAR, H2, SYNGAS, BIOGAS, PELLETS, BRIQUETTES, AMMONIA BIOPRODUCTS FRUCTOSE SYRUP, INULIN, HEALTHY SWEETENERS, FAT SUBSTITUTE (ICE CREAM), BIOPLASTICS, CELLULOSE, PAPER, ACIDS, CO, CO2, BIOPOLYMERS, PRESSED BOARDS, GEOTEXTILES, FIBRES, PHENOL, ADHESIVES, WAX, ANTIFREEZE, FILM (FOOD WRAP), FERTILIZERS, INSULATING FOAM AND PANES, GEL, NON-WOOVEN MATERIAL (DISPOSABLE DIAPERS), MOULDINGS, CONCRETE ADDITIVE, GEL, COMPOSITE MATERIALS, ESTERS, SUBSTITUTES FOR ASBESTOS AND GLASS FIBRE, PECTIN, ACTIVATED COAL, SECONDARY METABOLITES, DETERGENT, GLYCOLS, FOOD ADDITIVES, FURFURANS, RESINS, POLYURETHANES, EPOXY, AROMATICS, OLEFINS... GREEN ELECTRICITY PELLETS AND BRIQUETTES, SYN-GAS, BIOOIL, BIOCOAL, BIOGAS, BIOCHAR, H2 CELLS, AMMONIA, PYROLYSIS OIL... CO2 SEQUESTERING IN THE SOIL (2,000-year average) BIOCHAR

Drylands are about 41% of the Earth's surface and support over 2 billion people

Wet T.

WHAT’S NEXT? MORE R&D IS NEEDED (DATA/AG/LAB/TECH/ MKT) DATA MUST BE SCIENTIFICALLY VALIDATED & SYSTEMATIZED INDUSTRIAL BIOFUELS-CONVERSION TRIALS ARE NEEDED ANNUALLY, ~3M TONNES OF AGAVE FRESH BIOMASS ARE WASTED BY TEQUILA INDUSTRY (11.5M TONNES OF CO2e) CURRENT OVERPRODUCTION OF ~15M TONNES OF Agave tequilana PLANTS AVAILABLE. 5X MORE LAND IS AVAILABLE. EXCELLENT BIZ OPORTUNITY FOR AGAVE-DERIVED BIOFUELS DEVELOP ALLIANCES. GET FUNDING & INVESTMENT. DEMONSTRATION PLANTATIONS & FACILITIES ARE NEEDED AGAVE IS THE BEST FEEDSTOCK FOR AN INTEGRATED BIOREFINERY MORE R&D IS NEEDED (DATA/AG/LAB/TECH/ MKT) DATA MUST BE SCIENTIFICALLY VALIDATED & SYSTEMATIZED INDUSTRIAL BIOFUELS-CONVERSION TRIALS ARE NEEDED ANNUALLY, ~3M TONNES OF AGAVE FRESH BIOMASS ARE WASTED BY TEQUILA INDUSTRY (11.5M TONNES OF CO2e) CURRENT OVERPRODUCTION OF ~15M TONNES OF Agave tequilana PLANTS AVAILABLE. 5X MORE LAND IS AVAILABLE. EXCELLENT BIZ OPORTUNITY FOR AGAVE-DERIVED BIOFUELS DEVELOP ALLIANCES. GET FUNDING & INVESTMENT. DEMONSTRATION PLANTATIONS & FACILITIES ARE NEEDED AGAVE IS THE BEST FEEDSTOCK FOR AN INTEGRATED BIOREFINERY

Arturo Vélez Jiménez Tel - Fax: (5255) Cel: