Brave Program

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To meet the growing demand for biofuels, aiming to find solutions for the energy transition, the diversification of raw materials is essential. Shell Brazil's BRAVE program seeks to promote agave, a plant adapted to semi-arid climates, as a source of ethanol. The idea united academic and industry partners in a solution with socio-environmental benefits.

Agave as a sustainable vector – diversification of raw materials for biofuels.

Methodology

The program is divided into BRAVE-Bio, coordinated by UNICAMP, focusing on generating scientific and technical bases for the use of agave as a biomass source; BRAVE-Mec, SENAI/CIMATEC, seeking technological solutions for the mechanization of agave planting and harvesting processes; and BRAVE-Ind, SENAI/CIMATEC, aiming at the agave processing route for obtaining first and second generation ethanol, biogas, and co-products. BRAVE has almost 30 researchers, in addition to more than 100 scholarship holders and technicians from different institutions, having started in November 2022, with a duration of five years.

BRAVE-Bio, Mec and Ind – integrated research, mechanization and processing for innovation in biofuels.

Results

In BRAVE-Bio, a protocol for seedling production using tissue micropropagation was developed; the first genetically modified agave variety resistant to glyphosate was obtained; and positive results were achieved for growth biostimulants. In BRAVE-Mec, the harvesting machine project was completed, and in BRAVE-Ind, the process for producing ethanol from agave broth and the pyrolysis reaction for biochar production was defined. As the program is halfway through its implementation, the scaling up of results will take place over the next two and a half years.

Agave from start to finish – genetics, mechanized harvesting, and ethanol and biochar production.

Supporting Material

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Energy
AGRICULTURE FOREST Industry INFRASTRUCTURE LIVESTOCK