SGP BioEnergy and LFRI launch READY.GROW. program for industrial hemp

The agreement was signed in New York on September 21, 2023, at a roundtable event sponsored by SGP BioEnergy (SGP) during the 78^thsession of the United Nations General Assembly and the NGO on Private Sector Development at the United Nations (UN) to promote the Culture of Peace.

Powerful demographic

Latino Farmers and Ranchers International (LFRI) represents Latino farmers, ranchers, and producers throughout the United States (US), a demographic that controls over 32 million acres and generates over US$21.8 billion in annual sales as per official statistics from the National Agriculture Statistical Service (NASS) Census at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

SGP BioEnergy’s dedicated “READY.GROW. Program” is a global bioenergy feedstock development system delivering low-carbon-intensity feedstocks with end-to-end traceability, sustainable certification using the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC), and other best practices.

Utilize industrial hemp

Industrial hemp is a non-food, carbon-neutral crop, which naturally enhances soil for food production and requires little water to grow, among many advantages.

LFRI was instrumental in the legalization of industrial hemp in the United States and possesses an intellectual property suite of decades-long know-how and hands-on expertise in growing and optimizing this crop.

SGP intends to apply proprietary genetics to enhance the production of non-narcotic industrial hemp. In addition to their commitment to adhering to SGP’s stringent ESG plan, both groups committed to never displacing food production as part of their bioenergy growth strategy.

SGP’s READY.GROW. Program is not just another agricultural project; it’s a movement. It lays the foundation for fair, just, and equitable agriculture, ensuring a brighter tomorrow for the world, said Rudy Arredondo, President, CEO, and Executive Director of Latino Farmers and Ranchers International (LFRI).

Aligned with all SDGs

Aligned with all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) prescribed by the United Nations and the 2030 Agenda, SGP BioEnergy’s Zero-Waste Ecosystem platform presents a comprehensive guide to implementing industrial-scale bioenergy projects with a low to net zero carbon footprint.

For SGP, the Golden City Biorefinery project in Colón, Panama stands as a beacon for industrial-scale renewable energy infrastructure, promising over 3 million living-wage jobs, the rejuvenation of global agriculture, and the communities it supports.

World’s largest advanced biorefinery

At its completion, the US$7.7 billion Golden City Biorefinery project, designed to produce 180,000 barrels per day of advanced renewable fuels, including sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), renewable diesel (HVO) for marine and road, and low-cost green hydrogen, among other fuels, is slated to be the largest advanced biorefinery in the world with access to over 1,900 global ports.

Through the intricate synergy of the Golden City Biorefinery and our Zero Waste Ecosystem, the formal launch of our READY.GROW. Program represents our final, actionable point of implementation: ensuring that the ingredients needed to produce our advanced biofuels and consumer and industrial products are readily available, meet our stringent ESG criteria, and drive impact to the communities in which we operate; we’re not just envisioning a sustainable future – we’re actively constructing it, said Randy Delbert Letang, CEO of SGP BioEnergy.

SGP intends to utilize these feedstocks to produce advanced biofuels, green hydrogen, and products manufactured for the global OEM markets.

Each drop of biofuel from the Golden City Biorefinery symbolizes hope, progress, and our unwavering commitment to creating a world where sustainability and equity aren’t options – they are the standard, Randy Delbert Letang said.