Ethanol from Bitter Cassava: An Alternative to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and an Opportunity for Energy Sovereignty under the E10 Policy.

Undergraduate thesis exploring the potential of bitter cassava (Manihot esculenta) as a feedstock for bioethanol production in Colombia to support the national E10 fuel policy. It examines the greenhouse gas emissions of the oil industry and contrasts them with bioethanol’s lower carbon footprint. The research details the Cantaclaro Project, a cassava-based ethanol plant in Meta, analyzing its feasibility for reactivation and expansion. Results show that Colombia’s tropical soils can sustain large-scale cultivation of bitter cassava, generating employment, fostering regional peace, and reducing dependence on imported ethanol. The study positions cassava bioethanol as a key contributor to climate change mitigation and national energy independence