Biodiesel market in Brazil

an analysis of the production, technological development and social objectives of PNPB

Abstract

Abstract

With the creation in 2004 of PNPB (National Program for the Production and Use of Biodiesel) that introduced biodiesel into the national energy matrix, prioritizing the supply of raw material by family agriculture, a productive chain with national capillarity potential was created. After more than ten years of biofuel production in Brazil, the objective of this research was to analyze the national biodiesel market, without losing sight of the social objectives of the program, taking as a basis of discussion the organization of supply and technological development in the sector. For this purpose, it was used from the spatial analysis of the production organization, R & D projects and patent deposits. As results, it was pointed out that the technological development of Brazilian biodiesel is spatially concentrated and that the drive for innovation in the chain is the science-push type and with low degree of cooperation between companies and universities. It also concluded that the patented inventions did not fit into innovations, given the lack of technology transfer contracts. Finally, the research reflected on the relationship between companies, research institutions and technological development, and their implications and challenges for the objectives of regional development and inclusion of family agriculture present in the PNPB.

Key words: Regional Development. Innovatio. Spatial distribution.