Grains Council Signs Deal for UAE Biorefinery
A memorandum of understanding commits BioPower Energy to sourcing U.S. feedstock for a planned biorefinery in the United Arab Emirates.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Agriculture
The U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council signed a memorandum of understanding with BioPower Energy on October 16, 2026, during Export Exchange 2026 in Seattle, Washington. The agreement signals BioPower Energy's intention to source 50% to 100% of its feedstock from U.S. suppliers.
Why it matters
The memorandum ties U.S. grain and bioproduct exports to a new Gulf-region energy project, widening export channels for American barley, corn, and sorghum. It also reflects a growing effort to link agricultural trade with biofuel and bioproduct production abroad.
The agreement guarantees an initial minimum of 1 million metric tons (39 million bushels) in annual purchases, with feedstock sourcing targeted at 50% to 100% from U.S. suppliers. The source does not specify a construction timeline or a total project cost for the biorefinery.
The players
U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council
A U.S. organization that develops export markets for American barley, corn, sorghum, and related products, with nine international offices and representation in 30 countries.
BioPower Energy
A joint venture of Quazar Investment and Petron Scientech that plans to build a fully integrated biorefinery in the United Arab Emirates.
The details
Jay Reiners, chairman of the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council, and Sameer Salgar, CEO of BioPower Energy Solutions, signed the memorandum during Export Exchange 2026. BioPower Energy, a joint venture of Quazar Investment and Petron Scientech, plans to build, own, and operate a fully integrated biorefinery in the United Arab Emirates.
Timeline
October 16, 2026: Memorandum of understanding signed in Seattle, Washington, during Export Exchange 2026.
Roadmap
The memorandum extends the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council's mandate for developing export markets for barley, corn, and sorghum beyond raw shipments into overseas processing. It follows the council's broader pattern of building long-term international buyer relationships across its 30-country footprint.
For American grain producers, the agreement points to potential demand for barley, corn, and sorghum tied to a new processing market. Consumers are unlikely to see direct price effects from a project still in planning stages.
The takeaway
Export agreements increasingly link commodity supply to downstream processing, so producers should watch whether such commitments translate into lasting demand. The memorandum is a signed intention, and its real market effect will depend on the biorefinery's progress.
Further reading
Explore more Agriculture coverage for the broader trade context behind this deal.
More information
Learn about the council's export programs at U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council programs information.
Source note: This article includes information reported by High Plains Journal.
