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Of cane or corn: meet the flex plants that expand ethanol production capacity with both inputs

Rural producers and investors in Brazil have been driving the creation of "flex" ethanol plants, which use both sugarcane and corn as raw materials. The model allows for year-round production, unlike the traditional system based solely on sugarcane, which is seasonal. the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association and Bioenergy (UNICA) states that this practice strengthens national supply and the country's energy security. Currently, there are 12 flex plants in operation — ten in the Center-South and two in the Northeast — responsible for up to 6% of Brazilian ethanol. In the 2025/26 cycle, there is an expectation of growth in this capacity.

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