Be8 selects KATZEN tech for wheat-to-ethanol project
US-headed KATZEN International, Inc. (KATZEN), a leading bioethanol process technology, design, and engineering company, has announced that it has been selected by Brazilian biodiesel major Be8 S.A., a subsidiary of ECB Group, to supply process technology and design for the second phase of Be8’s flagship wheat-based ethanol facility in Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul (RS).
Scheduled for launch in late 2026, the plant will integrate the production of high-value wheat gluten, as well as ethanol and Distiller’s Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS).
The unit will process 525,000 tonnes of winter cereals annually, including wheat, triticale, and corn, to produce 210 million liters of ethanol, 153,000 tonnes of DDGS, and 27,000 tonnes of vital gluten.
The project utilizes KATZEN’s proprietary process technology through its subsidiary, KATZEN Brasil, which provides engineering design, construction liaison, and startup services.
Reduce import dependence
With ethanol demand currently met entirely by imports from other Brazilian states, this plant represents an important step in reducing Rio Grande do Sul’s dependence on external fuel sources.
Furthermore, according to the Brazilian Wheat Industry Association (Abitrigo), Brazil spends approximately US$40 million annually importing vital gluten, primarily from Europe.
The Be8 plant’s production is capable of meeting domestic demand and will have a surplus with export potential, strengthening Brazil’s position in this segment.
The project is expected to create more than 1,000 direct and indirect jobs during construction and 175 permanent jobs upon completion.
The initiative will also increase the DDGS for the animal protein supply chain and promote the development of genomics technology for wheat-to-ethanol production, significantly boosting income for regional winter cereal agriculture.
This partnership demonstrates our ongoing commitment to innovative, high-performance solutions for grain-based biofuels for the Brazilian and global markets. We are honored to support Be8’s vision with KATZEN technology, which not only increases efficiency but also promotes economic and environmental sustainability, said Dave Lococo, CEO of KATZEN.
KATZEN’s process technology and engineering currently support 60 percent of Brazil’s grain ethanol production and 50 percent of Europe’s ethanol market, including landmark wheat-based projects such as a 400-million-liter plant in the UK and a 200-million-liter-per-year ethanol and vital gluten plant in Austria.
The Be8 project represents a bold step forward in Brazil’s efforts to diversify biofuel feedstocks beyond sugarcane, transforming underutilized crops into strategic national assets.
We are moving forward with the ethanol plant project by bringing together strategic partners that will enable us to achieve our development and innovation goals, with operations scheduled for 2026. We are pleased to advance this project with KATZEN’s partnership, emphasized Erasmo Carlos Battistella, President of Be8.
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