Acting Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Michael Scuse and a group of American ethanol industry leaders are in Mexico on a trade mission to investigate opportunities for expansion of the two country’s renewable energy industries.

“Our goal is to partner with Mexico to support the establishment of an economically viable ethanol industry there, where Mexican domestic production can be supplemented with imported product from the United States,” said Scuse in a statement released before the trip, taking place from May 24 to May 25. “The increased use of ethanol in the North American fuel market will provide citizens from both countries with an inexpensive source of renewable energy that improves air quality, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and stimulates the rural economy.”

The Untied States, the world’s largest manufacturer of ethanol, currently produces more than half of the total global supply of the fuel. The five billion bushels of corn used annually to produce ethanol generate about $20 billion for US farmers. 14 billion gallons of ethanol are mixed into American supplies of transportation fuel annually.

“Mexico, with the right policies in place, has the potential to achieve similar benefits producing ethanol from sugarcane,” said Scuse. “We view this as a partnership that can provide benefits for both Mexico and the United States.”

The American participants from the industry ethanol plan on discussing ethanol production and development of renewable fuel policies with their Mexican counterparts.