European ethanol plants produce more food and feed than fuel

European bioethanol plants produced 6.61 mln tons of food and feed co-products in 2025, exceeding renewable ethanol output of 5.32 mln tons, according to an audit conducted for industry association ePURE.

The data cover ePURE members, which represent around 85% of installed ethanol production capacity in the EU, as well as several other European producers. Nearly all agricultural feedstock processed by the plants was grown by European farmers.

Of total renewable ethanol output, 82.5% was supplied to the fuel market. Another 10.4% was used for industrial applications, while 7.1% went to the food and beverage sector.

The biorefineries also captured 1.15 mln tons of biogenic CO₂. It is used, among other applications, in beverage production and greenhouse farming, and could in future serve as a feedstock for synthetic fuels.

According to the audit, European renewable ethanol delivered average greenhouse gas savings of 82% compared with fossil gasoline. ePURE says combining ethanol production with food and feed output strengthens the sector’s role in Europe’s food and energy security.

Tags: fuel, bioethanol, EU, food, compound feed