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Q63 (IAS/2025) Environment & Ecology › Pollution & Conservation › Energy and emissions Answer Verified

Consider the following statements : Statement I : Of the two major ethanol producers in the world, i.e., Brazil and the United States of America, the former produces more ethanol than the latter. Statement II : Unlike in the United States of America where corn is the principal feedstock for ethanol production, sugarcane is the principal feedstock for ethanol production in Brazil. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: D
Explanation

**Statement I is incorrect.** The United States is the world's largest producer of ethanol, having produced over 15 billion gallons in 2021[1] and 2022. In comparison, Brazil's corn ethanol is expected to reach 10 billion liters (2.64 billion gallons) by 2025/26, and sugarcane ethanol has remained relatively stable at around 28 billion liters (7.4 billion gallons) annually[2], giving Brazil a total of roughly 10 billion gallons. Therefore, the United States produces more ethanol than Brazil, not the other way around.

**Statement II is correct.** Sugarcane ethanol has remained relatively stable at around 28 billion liters annually in Brazil, while corn ethanol is expected to account for nearly one-third of Brazil's total ethanol production[2], confirming sugarcane remains the principal feedstock in Brazil. Additionally, sugarcane juice can be used to prepare molasses which is fermented to give alcohol (ethanol), and some countries now use alcohol as an additive in petrol[3]. The United States primarily uses corn for ethanol production, as it is the dominant corn-based ethanol producer globally.

Sources
  1. [1] https://afdc.energy.gov/data/10331
  2. [2] https://farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/2025/04/ethanol-boom-drives-sharp-rise-in-brazils-corn-consumption.html
  3. [3] Science , class X (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Carbon and its Compounds > Alcohol as a fuel > p. 73
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PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. Consider the following statements : Statement I : Of the two major ethanol producers in the world, i.e., Brazil and the United States o…
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 3.3/10 · 6.7/10

This is a classic 'Comparative Economic Geography' question. It fuses static agricultural knowledge (Crop distribution: Corn vs Sugarcane) with industrial output rankings (Energy production). While books confirm the feedstock, the production ranking requires current economic awareness or logical derivation from the scale of US agriculture.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
As of 2025, which of the two major ethanol-producing countries—Brazil or the United States—had the higher annual ethanol production by volume?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"sugarcane ethanol has remained relatively stable at around 28 billion liters (7.4 billion gallons) annually, on average ... Corn ethanol is expected to account for nearly one-third of Brazil’s total ethanol production by the 2025/26 season, reaching 10 billion liters (2.64 billion gallons)"
Why this source?
  • Provides Brazil's recent/2025-era ethanol volumes broken down by feedstock and gives gallon equivalents.
  • Shows Brazil's sugarcane ethanol ~28 billion liters (7.4 billion gallons) plus corn ethanol ~10 billion liters (2.64 billion gallons), implying Brazil's total ≈ 10.04 billion gallons by 2025/26.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"States is the world's largest producer of ethanol, having produced over 15 billion gallons in 2021 and 2022."
Why this source?
  • States the United States is the world's largest ethanol producer and gives a recent annual production figure.
  • Reports the U.S. produced over 15 billion gallons in 2021 and 2022, a level higher than Brazil's ~10.04 billion gallons indicated for 2025/26.

Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > Maize or Corn (Zea Mays) > p. 23
Strength: 5/5
“Te United States of America (USA) has the highest harvest of maize in the world that contributes nearly 20 per cent of the total production in the world. Te other major countries that contribute signifcantly to the global maize production are China, Brazil, Mexico, India, Indonesia and Argentina (Fig. 12.6). Te USA has the highest average yield about 9.6 tonnes per hectare which is double than the global average productivity of 4.92 tonnes per hectare. Te average yield in Argentina, China, Brazil, Mexico and India are 6.47' 4.85,3.7, 2.53, and 2.43 tonnes per hectare respectively. In India, maize is the fourth most important food crop after rice, wheat and millets.”
Why relevant

States the United States has the highest maize harvest in the world (major feedstock for ethanol).

How to extend

A student could combine this with the outside fact that much U.S. ethanol is corn-based to infer the U.S. has large ethanol-making capacity from maize production.

Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > 16. Energy Crops > p. 13
Strength: 4/5
“Crops which are grown to obtain liquid energy such as ethanol and alcohol e.g. sugarcane, potato, maize, tapioca.”
Why relevant

Defines crops used to produce liquid biofuels (ethanol), listing sugarcane and maize among primary feedstocks.

How to extend

Use this rule to link crop-dominance (maize for U.S., sugarcane for Brazil) to each country's likely ethanol production potential.

Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 26: Agriculture > World Production and Distribution Distribution > p. 260
Strength: 5/5
“(a) Raw sugar amounts to 50 million tonnes in 1977. Comes mainly from sugar-cane, of which India (20%), Brazil (16%), Cuba (8.7%) and China (6%) are the leading producers. Others: Mexico, Pakistan, the U.S.A., Thailand, Australia, Philippines and Columbia. (b) Beet sugar has practically no international trade. Producers are the U.S.S.R. (327o), France (8.57o), the U.S.A. (87o), East and West Germany, Italy, Poland, United Kingdom and Czechoslovakia.”
Why relevant

Notes raw sugar comes mainly from sugarcane and lists Brazil as a leading producer of sugarcane-derived sugar.

How to extend

A student could combine Brazil's strong sugarcane production with the fact that Brazil commonly uses sugarcane for ethanol to infer high ethanol output potential.

Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > Sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris) > p. 36
Strength: 3/5
“Sugarbeet is also an important sugar-producing crop that stores sugar in roots. It accounts for nearly 22 per cent of the world's total sugar production. It is also potential source of ethanol which is now blended in automobile fuel. Unlike sugarcane, which is a crop of the tropics is essentially a crop of the temperate regions. It is grown for commercial sugar production mainly in European countries; USA”
Why relevant

Mentions sugarbeet and the U.S.A. as a producer, indicating the U.S. also has temperate-region sugar feedstocks usable for ethanol.

How to extend

This suggests the U.S. has multiple ethanol feedstock sources (maize and beet), reinforcing its overall ethanol production capacity when combined with maize data.

Statement 2
As of 2025, is corn the principal feedstock for ethanol production in the United States?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 4/5
"Fuel ethanol production— derived primarily from sugar or starch crops—rose to 46 billion liters, ... The United States and Brazil account for 95 percent of the world’s ethanol production."
Why this source?
  • Explicitly states fuel ethanol is derived primarily from sugar or starch crops, identifying the relevant feedstock types.
  • Notes the United States and Brazil account for the vast majority of world ethanol production, linking the U.S. to the 'starch' category (as Brazil is associated with sugar).
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"Figure 1.2 Corn- based biofuels ... Corn ethanol"
Why this source?
  • Specifically references 'Corn ethanol' and corn-based biofuels, showing corn is a key starch feedstock for ethanol.
  • Supports the identification of corn as the starch crop used to produce ethanol (consistent with starch-based ethanol noted in passage 7).

Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 15: Infrastructure > NATIONAL POLICY ON BIOFUELS, 2018 > p. 453
Strength: 5/5
“The important features of this policy are: • a. Categorisation of biofuels as 'basic biofuels' and 'advanced biofuels'.\n• b. Incentives, off-take assurance and viability gap funding for advanced biofuels.\n• c. Allowing B-molasses, sugar beet, sweet sorghum, starch-containing materials like corn, cassava, damaged food grains like wheat, broken rice and rotten potatoes, which are unfit for human consumption, for ethanol production.\n• d”
Why relevant

Lists 'starch-containing materials like corn' explicitly as eligible feedstocks for ethanol production (policy-level mention of corn as a feedstock).

How to extend

A student could combine this with knowledge of US agricultural output to infer corn is a commonly used feedstock and then check US-specific ethanol feedstock statistics.

Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > Maize or Corn (Zea Mays) > p. 23
Strength: 5/5
“Te United States of America (USA) has the highest harvest of maize in the world that contributes nearly 20 per cent of the total production in the world. Te other major countries that contribute signifcantly to the global maize production are China, Brazil, Mexico, India, Indonesia and Argentina (Fig. 12.6). Te USA has the highest average yield about 9.6 tonnes per hectare which is double than the global average productivity of 4.92 tonnes per hectare. Te average yield in Argentina, China, Brazil, Mexico and India are 6.47' 4.85,3.7, 2.53, and 2.43 tonnes per hectare respectively. In India, maize is the fourth most important food crop after rice, wheat and millets.”
Why relevant

States the USA has the highest harvest of maize (corn) worldwide and contributes ~20% of global production, indicating large domestic corn availability.

How to extend

A student can link high domestic corn supply to likely industrial uses (including ethanol) and compare volumes of ethanol production feedstock in US data.

Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 30: Climatic Regions > Corn > p. 454
Strength: 4/5
“• The humid air, the sunny summer and the heavy showers suit the crop well. It is grown right from the Gulf coast to the Mid-west south of the Great Lakes, with the greatest concentration in the Corn Belt of Nebraska, Iowa, Indiana and Ohio.• The region accounts for more than half the world's production of corn, but only 3 per cent of the world's export. This is because most of the corn is used for fattening animals, mostly cattle and pigs (thriving beef and pork industry). The fattened animals are then sold to the meat plants in Chicago and Cincinnati to be processed into 'corned beef' (from here the beef is exported through the Great Lakes and St Lawrence waterway).• Apart from its ease of cultivation, corn's most outstanding feature is its prolific yield.”
Why relevant

Describes the US Corn Belt as accounting for more than half the world's corn production and notes most corn is used for animal feed—shows large-scale corn production and established commodity uses.

How to extend

A student could reason that this production scale makes corn a logical major feedstock for other large domestic industries like ethanol and then seek US ethanol feedstock breakdowns.

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 6: Environmental Issues > Who are behind developing GE trees and why? > p. 123
Strength: 4/5
“It is ArborCen, a subsidiary of Monsanto, and oil companies like British Petroieum and Chevron that are investing in this technology. For these companies, GE trees offer a viable alternative to fossil fuels as GE trees could produce ethanol, a green fuel. As the ethanol produced from food stocks came under attack, the companies see a bright future in non-food cellulose feedstock like GE trees.”
Why relevant

Notes that ethanol produced from 'food stocks' (implying crops such as corn) came under attack, motivating a shift toward non-food cellulose feedstocks—implies food crops have been used historically for ethanol.

How to extend

A student could treat this as contextual evidence that food crops (e.g., corn) were significant ethanol feedstocks and then check contemporary US practice to see if corn remains principal.

Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > Sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris) > p. 36
Strength: 3/5
“Sugarbeet is also an important sugar-producing crop that stores sugar in roots. It accounts for nearly 22 per cent of the world's total sugar production. It is also potential source of ethanol which is now blended in automobile fuel. Unlike sugarcane, which is a crop of the tropics is essentially a crop of the temperate regions. It is grown for commercial sugar production mainly in European countries; USA”
Why relevant

Identifies sugarbeet as a 'potential source of ethanol' and mentions multiple crop sources—indicates there are alternative feedstocks to corn for ethanol production.

How to extend

A student can use this to remind themselves alternatives exist and so should verify whether corn or alternatives are dominant in the US by consulting US-specific feedstock shares.

Statement 3
As of 2025, is sugarcane the principal feedstock for ethanol production in Brazil?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > Sugarcane (Saccharum spp) > p. 34
Presence: 4/5
“In the absence of adequate rainfall, controlled irrigation should be available. Brazil is the leading producer of sugarcane, followed by India, China, and Cuba. Te other producers of sugarcane are Mexico, Pakistan, Tanzania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Tailand, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama (Fig. 12.13).”
Why this source?
  • Identifies Brazil as the world’s leading producer of sugarcane
  • High national production implies abundant raw material for industrial uses such as ethanol
Science , class X (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Carbon and its Compounds > Alcohol as a fuel > p. 73
Presence: 5/5
“Sugarcane plants are one of the most efficient convertors of sunlight into chemical energy. Sugarcane juice can be used to prepare molasses which is fermented to give alcohol (ethanol). Some countries now use alcohol as an additive in petrol since it is a cleaner fuel which gives rise to only carbon dioxide and water on burning in sufficient air (oxygen).”
Why this source?
  • Explains that sugarcane juice can be processed into molasses and fermented to produce ethanol
  • Directly links sugarcane processing to ethanol production pathway
Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 30: Climatic Regions > Plantation Boom > p. 428
Presence: 4/5
“• Plantations: Palm; Region(s): Malaysia, Indonesia • Plantations: Sugarcane; Region(s): Brazil • Plantations: Coffee; Region(s): Brazil • Plantations: Rubber; Region(s): Malaysia, Indonesia • Plantations: Cocoa; Region(s): Ghana, Nigeria”
Why this source?
  • Specifies sugarcane plantations are associated with Brazil
  • Supports the geographic and agricultural basis for large-scale sugarcane-based ethanol production
Pattern takeaway: UPSC loves 'Binary Comparisons' between the top two global players (e.g., China vs India in Steel, USA vs Brazil in Ethanol). When studying a commodity, always memorize the Top 2 producers and their primary raw material source.
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Manageable Trap. Statement II is standard NCERT Geography; Statement I is a 'General Awareness' fact often covered in Economy/Environment current affairs.
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Economic Geography > Agro-based Industries > Biofuels. Specifically, the 'Food vs Fuel' debate.
  3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: 1. Global Ethanol Ranking: USA (~55%) > Brazil (~27%) > EU > China > India. 2. Feedstocks: USA (Corn), Brazil (Sugarcane), EU (Sugarbeet/Wheat), China (Corn/Cassava), India (Molasses/Maize/Rice). 3. India's Target: E20 (20% blending) by 2025-26. 4. Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA) members.
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Do not study crops in isolation. Always map 'Resource -> Industry'. If you study Maize, ask 'Who grows the most?' (USA) and 'What do they use it for?' (Animal feed & Ethanol). The scale of the US Corn Belt suggests massive industrial capacity.
Concept hooks from this question
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Ethanol feedstocks: sugarcane, maize, sugarbeet
💡 The insight

Ethanol production depends on primary feedstocks such as sugarcane, maize and sugarbeet which determine national production capacity.

High-yield: Understanding which crops supply ethanol helps explain why countries with large maize or sugarcane harvests can be major ethanol producers; connects agriculture, energy policy and trade, and helps answer comparative questions on biofuel output.

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > 16. Energy Crops > p. 13
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > Maize or Corn (Zea Mays) > p. 23
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > Sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris) > p. 36
🔗 Anchor: "As of 2025, which of the two major ethanol-producing countries—Brazil or the Uni..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Ethanol blending targets and national biofuel policies
💡 The insight

Mandates and targets for ethanol blending directly influence domestic ethanol demand and therefore production levels.

High-yield: Mastery of how policy drives production is useful for questions on energy transition, climate policy and rural economy; it enables analysis of how regulatory targets can accelerate or limit national ethanol output.

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 23: India and Climate Change > ruffi ,l.x ii E > p. 316
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 23: India and Climate Change > 23.15. PROMOTION OF BIOFUELS > p. 315
🔗 Anchor: "As of 2025, which of the two major ethanol-producing countries—Brazil or the Uni..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Sugarcane & raw sugar production as indicator of ethanol potential
💡 The insight

Large raw sugar production from sugarcane signals greater potential capacity for ethanol production from sugarcane-based processes.

High-yield: Knowing major sugarcane/raw-sugar producers allows informed inference about ethanol-producing capability and links to agro-industry and trade questions; useful for comparative country analyses on biofuel resources.

📚 Reading List :
  • Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 26: Agriculture > World Production and Distribution Distribution > p. 260
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > Sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris) > p. 36
🔗 Anchor: "As of 2025, which of the two major ethanol-producing countries—Brazil or the Uni..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 US maize (corn) production and primary end-uses
💡 The insight

The United States is the world’s largest producer of maize and a large share of US corn is used for animal feed.

High-yield concept for questions on agricultural output and commodity uses; links cropping patterns, food security and industrial demand. Mastering this helps answer questions on resource allocation (food vs industrial uses) and on regional economic geography of the US Corn Belt.

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > Maize or Corn (Zea Mays) > p. 23
  • Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 30: Climatic Regions > Corn > p. 454
  • Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 21: The Warm Temperate Eastern Margin (China Type) Climate > Economic Development > p. 203
🔗 Anchor: "As of 2025, is corn the principal feedstock for ethanol production in the United..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 National biofuel feedstock policy and eligible feedstocks
💡 The insight

Biofuel policy can explicitly list eligible feedstocks including starch-based crops such as corn and other sources like molasses and sugar beet.

Important for policy-analysis questions on energy security and agricultural policy; connects national policy choices to market demand for crops and to trade-offs in land use. Knowing policy categories enables evaluation of how governments diversify ethanol supply.

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 23: India and Climate Change > ruffi ,l.x ii E > p. 316
  • Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 15: Infrastructure > NATIONAL POLICY ON BIOFUELS, 2018 > p. 453
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > Sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris) > p. 36
🔗 Anchor: "As of 2025, is corn the principal feedstock for ethanol production in the United..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Food-feedstock vs second‑generation (non-food) ethanol pathways
💡 The insight

There is a policy and industry shift toward non-food cellulose feedstocks and establishment of second-generation ethanol plants.

Key for questions on sustainability, climate change mitigation and technological responses in the biofuels sector; links biotechnology, corporate strategy and environmental policy. Understanding this distinction helps assess debates on food‑fuel competition and future feedstock trends.

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 6: Environmental Issues > Who are behind developing GE trees and why? > p. 123
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 8: Energy Resources > 5. Ethanol Blending Programme > p. 17
🔗 Anchor: "As of 2025, is corn the principal feedstock for ethanol production in the United..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S3
👉 Sugarcane as an ethanol feedstock
💡 The insight

Sugarcane provides fermentable sugars (via juice/molasses) that are converted into ethanol and is abundant in Brazil.

High-yield for questions on biofuels and renewable energy because it links crop production to fuel policy and industrial processing; connects agriculture, energy resources, and rural economy topics; enables answering questions on feedstock choices, comparative advantages, and biofuel value chains.

📚 Reading List :
  • Science , class X (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Carbon and its Compounds > Alcohol as a fuel > p. 73
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > Sugarcane (Saccharum spp) > p. 34
🔗 Anchor: "As of 2025, is sugarcane the principal feedstock for ethanol production in Brazi..."
🌑 The Hidden Trap

Biodiesel Feedstocks. Since Ethanol (Petrol substitute) was asked, expect Biodiesel (Diesel substitute). Top producers: Indonesia (Palm Oil), USA/Brazil (Soybean Oil), EU (Rapeseed/Canola). Also, watch for 'Sustainable Aviation Fuel' (SAF) feedstocks like Used Cooking Oil (UCO).

⚡ Elimination Cheat Code

The 'Superpower Scale' Heuristic. The US Corn Belt is the largest contiguous agricultural zone for a single crop in the world. In industrial processing of agricultural commodities, the US volume is rarely beaten by Brazil. If you assume USA > Brazil, Statement I becomes False. Only Option D allows Statement I to be incorrect. Solved.

🔗 Mains Connection

GS-3 (Economy & Environment): The 'Food vs Fuel' ethical dilemma. Using Corn (USA) or Sugarcane (Brazil) links energy security to food inflation. This is a perfect point for Mains answers on Energy Security or Agricultural Policy.

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