The American company KATZEN has been chosen to lead the construction of a wheat-based ethanol plant in Brazil

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KATZEN International, Inc., a pioneer in bioethanol technology and engineering in the United States, announced that Be8 S.A. has chosen it to provide the process technology and design for the second phase of Be8’s flagship wheat ethanol facility in Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The plant is scheduled to begin operations by the end of 2026, and it will integrate the production of high-value wheat gluten, ethanol, and DDGs (distilled dry grains and solubles). The facility will process 525,000 tons of winter grains per year, including wheat, rye, and corn, to produce 210 million liters of ethanol, 153,000 tons of DDGS, and 27,000 tons of valuable gluten. The project utilizes KATZEN’s proprietary process technology through its subsidiary KATZEN Brasil, which provides engineering design, construction coordination, and commissioning services. Since current ethanol demand is entirely met by imports from other states in Brazil, this plant represents an important step toward reducing the State of Mato Grosso’s dependence on external fuel sources. Furthermore, according to data from the Brazilian Wheat Industry Association (Abitrigo), Brazil spends around $40 million per year on importing important gluten proteins, primarily from Europe. The production at the Be8 factory can meet domestic demand, with surplus capacity for export, thereby strengthening Brazil’s position in this sector. The project is expected to create more than 1,000 direct and indirect jobs during construction, and 175 long-term jobs upon completion. This initiative will also increase DDGs in the animal protein supply chain, promote the development of genetic technologies for ethanol production from wheat, and significantly boost the income of regional winter grain farming. KATZEN said: This partnership demonstrates our ongoing commitment to providing innovative, high-performance food biofuel solutions for the Brazilian and global markets. The ethanol plant project is scheduled to come online in 2026.