Fueling Choice
Syngenta revs up its support of ethanol and local FFA chapters at Iowa NASCAR race.
More than 500 corn growers, seed resellers, ethanol producers and Syngenta personnel from six states came together at the Iowa Speedway in June to celebrate ethanol. Since 2013, sponsorship of the American Ethanol 200 Presented by Enogen has given Syngenta a chance to increase awareness of this superior, higher-octane fuel and show its support of the industry.
The race, which takes place annually in Newton, Iowa, is part of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. While 2015 first-place finisher Erik Jones and grand marshal Chris Soules, grower of Enogen® corn and star of the TV show "The Bachelor," shared the spotlight, ethanol was the true winner. Prior to the race’s start, Syngenta announced its plans to donate approximately $600,000 to the Prime the Pump Fund. This ethanol industry initiative awards grants to early retail adopters of high-level ethanol blends to help them reduce their initial investment in infrastructure.
Since 2001, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has allowed the use of gasoline blends containing as much as 15 percent ethanol for cars from that year or newer. Prime the Pump was formed to help the industry advance, following EPA’s initial step.
"The Syngenta donation supports our strategy of aiding high-volume, industry-leading fuel retailers, who will demonstrate the performance, cost savings and profit opportunity of marketing higher-ethanol blends, such as E15,” says Ray Defenbaugh, chairman, Prime the Pump Fund.
Support of the Prime the Pump Fund is part of a Syngenta commitment initiated in 2013 to contribute $1 to the ethanol industry for every acre planted with Enogen corn enzyme technology.
“Syngenta is pleased to continue its financial support of the ethanol industry,” says Jack Bernens, head of Enogen at Syngenta. “Clearly, we have the vehicles capable of using blends higher than E10, but consumers need greater access to stations capable of providing it. Efforts like Prime the Pump will help make that access a reality.”
In conjunction with the race, Syngenta also collaborated with Iowa FFA members to raise money to complement its dollar-per-acre donation. For the past two years, Syngenta has matched funds raised by FFA members for flex-fuel infrastructure, with a portion of the proceeds going to participating FFA chapters.
“Engaging the public about ethanol and renewable fuels is a good opportunity for my students,” says Miranda Johnson, advisor of the Twin Cedars FFA Chapter. “They are the future, and they understand the importance of conservation and preservation of our land and resources—and the vital role farmers play in feeding and fueling our country.”
The race, which takes place annually in Newton, Iowa, is part of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. While 2015 first-place finisher Erik Jones and grand marshal Chris Soules, grower of Enogen® corn and star of the TV show "The Bachelor," shared the spotlight, ethanol was the true winner. Prior to the race’s start, Syngenta announced its plans to donate approximately $600,000 to the Prime the Pump Fund. This ethanol industry initiative awards grants to early retail adopters of high-level ethanol blends to help them reduce their initial investment in infrastructure.
Since 2001, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has allowed the use of gasoline blends containing as much as 15 percent ethanol for cars from that year or newer. Prime the Pump was formed to help the industry advance, following EPA’s initial step.
"The Syngenta donation supports our strategy of aiding high-volume, industry-leading fuel retailers, who will demonstrate the performance, cost savings and profit opportunity of marketing higher-ethanol blends, such as E15,” says Ray Defenbaugh, chairman, Prime the Pump Fund.
Support of the Prime the Pump Fund is part of a Syngenta commitment initiated in 2013 to contribute $1 to the ethanol industry for every acre planted with Enogen corn enzyme technology.
“Syngenta is pleased to continue its financial support of the ethanol industry,” says Jack Bernens, head of Enogen at Syngenta. “Clearly, we have the vehicles capable of using blends higher than E10, but consumers need greater access to stations capable of providing it. Efforts like Prime the Pump will help make that access a reality.”
In conjunction with the race, Syngenta also collaborated with Iowa FFA members to raise money to complement its dollar-per-acre donation. For the past two years, Syngenta has matched funds raised by FFA members for flex-fuel infrastructure, with a portion of the proceeds going to participating FFA chapters.
“Engaging the public about ethanol and renewable fuels is a good opportunity for my students,” says Miranda Johnson, advisor of the Twin Cedars FFA Chapter. “They are the future, and they understand the importance of conservation and preservation of our land and resources—and the vital role farmers play in feeding and fueling our country.”
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