“More Brazilian Than Cachaça”: Brazilian Sugar-Based Ethanol Development in the Twentieth Century

Today, Brazil has one of the most diverse energy systems in the world. The sugar-based ethanol industry plays a pivotal role in that achievement, yet scholars of energy development have focused little on ethanol. This article examines the history of the sugar-based ethanol industry from its beginning in the 1930s to the creation of the state-led program Proalcool (the National Ethanol Program) in 1975 and the ethanol-fueled car in 1979. This article demonstrates how federal and private actors connected nationalist goals of a modern, industrial Brazilian identity to ethanol in order to sustain the industry against the vagaries of the sugar market. Drawing from production data, the monthly sugar industry journal Brasil Acucareiro, newspapers, government funding applications for privately owned ethanol distilleries, and oral interviews, it highlights how the idea of a nationally developed technology and domestic industry etched a long-term place for the ethanol industry in the nation’s energy strategy. Resumen Hoje, o Brasil tem um dos sistemas de energia mais diversos no mundo. A industria sucroalcooleira tem um papel central nessa conquista, mas academicos em desenvolvimento de energia tem se concentrado pouco no alcool. Esse artigo se concentra na historia da industria desde seu inicio na decada de 30 ate a criacao do programa estadual, Proalcool (o programa nacional do alcool), em 1975 e o carro a alcool em 1979. Esse artigo mostra como os participantes federais e privados conectaram as metas nacionalistas de uma identidade brasileira moderna e industrial com o alcool para manter a industria contra as dificuldades do mercado acucareiro. Usando dados de producao, o diario mensal Brasil Acucareiro, jornais, aplicacoes para fundos governamentais para destilarias privadas do alcool, e entrevistas orais, esse artigo destaca como a ideia da tecnologia desenvolvida nacionalmente e a industria domestica estabelecerem um lugar no longo prazo para a industria do alcool na estrategia energetica nacional.