Doug Berven joined POET in March of 2003 and has served the organization in several key roles since then. In his current role as Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Doug promotes the corporate objectives of POET, the importance of agriculture, and the benefits of biofuels domestically and internationally. Doug currently sits on the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance Executive Committee and Board, the Fuels Institute Advisory Board, is a Senior Advisor to Solutions from the Land, is the Executive Director of the South Dakota Ethanol Producers Association, is team leader on the U.S. Grains Council Ethanol Advisory Team, and serves on several other industry associated work groups, committees, and associations. He also manages strategic corporate relations for POET, promotes state, national, and international policy objectives for the industry, and is a recognized authority on biofuels, renewable energy, and agriculture.

Today, we get to hear from that wealth of experience and expertise on a topic that can be controversial in the biofuels world, food versus fuel. We are going to explore the growth of bioethanol in the US and how it has shaped rural economies over the past four decades and impacted our food systems. And then we are going to pivot to the global south and explore the challenges of food insecurity and how bioethanol could actually improve those dynamics rather than threaten the food supply. We discussed the innovative technology, regulatory environment, and supply chain dynamics that could help shape the future of the global south and see a huge shift in agriculture, allowing many countries to successfully produce their own food and fuel.

Mackenzie Boubin serves as the Director of Global Ethanol Market Development for the U.S. Grains Council, a non-profit organization that operates globally to promote the use of U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and related products including ethanol. In this capacity, Mackenzie oversees development and execution of the Council’s global ethanol program including strategy development, program implementation, public affairs, and strategic partnerships.

Mackenzie has a broad experience in the ethanol industry - prior to joining the Council, she was the Biofuels and Industry Relations Director for the Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA), and before that was with the Minnesota Biofuels Association.

Today Mackenzie is going to share about the Council’s role within ethanol exports, and specifically touch on emerging markets like SAF, maritime, and of course - clean cooking solutions. We are going to talk about how the Grains Council is working to support market development globally for this new commodity opportunity, and the larger partnerships they are leveraging to accomplish heavy lifts around trade regulation and tariffs. Hear about the challenges they see for the growing industry, specific things they are doing to foster growth, as well as the things they and their constituents are most excited about within clean cooking. Don’t miss this candid conversation that is packed with information from Mackenzie and her experience helping to expand the nascent clean cooking market.

Kristy Moore is a leading authority on motor fuel quality, regulatory, safety, and environmental aspects, specializing in renewable and alternative fuels. Kristy is well known and respected throughout the industry for her depth of knowledge and expertise on gasoline and gasoline-ethanol blends. She is continuously developing opportunities for increased renewable fuel and chemical usage in domestic and global markets. Very active in ASTM International, she chairs the DO2 petroleum products, liquid fuels, and lubricants subcommittee 93 on international standards and related activities and chairs a subcommittee in committee E48 bioenergy and industrial chemicals from biomass.

On today's show, Kristy lends her insight on standards to inform us about the world of standards in general and why they are important, especially in regard to how critical they are for the nascent bioethanol cooking industry. She will also share some of her firsthand experience helping to shape and implement the current bioethanol cooking fuel standard through ASTM and her optimism for the future of the sector. Get excited about standards and their impact by listening to Kristy's passion and expertise.