Brazil-Germany biomass partnership targets low-carbon industrial technologies at Três Lagoas workshop

The 4th International Workshop on Biomass Innovation brought together researchers from Germany’s Fraunhofer IGB and Fraunhofer UMSICHT institutes with Brazilian counterparts at the ISI Biomassa facility in Três Lagoas, Mato Grosso do Sul. Luciana Vieira, group leader at the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology, presented work integrating electrochemical processes, renewable energy and biotechnology to expand biomass utilization. Vieira emphasized that no single technology will deliver decarbonization alone, requiring interdisciplinary teams and cross-sector collaboration. She described the Fraunhofer-ISI Biomassa relationship as a genuine technology exchange rather than one-way transfer from Europe, noting that developments at the Brazilian institute place it on equal footing for mutual learning.

Robert Daschner, department head at Fraunhofer UMSICHT, detailed German experiences in converting agricultural and forestry residues through thermochemical pathways and emissions reduction technologies. Daschner contrasted Germany’s limited biomass availability with Brazil’s far larger resource base, arguing that biomass can play a more substantial role in Brazil’s energy and industrial transition than in Europe. As a three-year partner of ISI Biomassa, Daschner identified the collaboration as an opportunity to develop technologies specifically for Brazilian market deployment, leveraging German process expertise with local feedstock abundance.

The ISI Biomassa operates more than 35 active research projects serving companies across multiple sectors, employing approximately 70 researchers, fellows and interns. The institute focuses on transforming low-value organic residues into higher-value products and industrial solutions. Rodolpho Mangialardo, SENAI regional director, noted the workshop’s growth over four editions and highlighted the capacity to connect research outputs directly with industrial needs. The event included international keynotes, thematic panels and presentations of research results.

Industrial participants outlined specific applications. Elias Borges dos Santos from Arauco, which is constructing a new cellulose plant in Inocência, described forest biomass potential beyond traditional pulp production, including industrial by-products for energy generation and bio-inputs. André Ferraresi from Tupy, a Brazilian metallurgy multinational, emphasized that decarbonization must achieve cost competitiveness to scale, citing biomass as offering significant competitive advantages. Ferraresi detailed joint ISI Biomassa projects including biomass substitution for mineral coke in foundry furnaces and enhanced durability systems for higher biodiesel blends. José Luiz Zontin, senior consultant at Petrobras, stressed that guaranteeing biomass feedstock with adequate quality, sustainability and competitive cost remains fundamental for achieving a responsible future energy matrix.