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 The Inter-American Development Bank is going to loan US$ 269 million and to help raise another US$ 379 million for three new ethanol mills in the center-south of Brazil, in the largest biofuel investment ever made by a development bank.
The three mills are being built by the National Sugar and Alcohol Company (CNAA), a joint venture established by Brazilian sugar producer Santelisa Vale, North American private investment funds and Global Foods, a holding registered in the Dutch Antilles.
The IDB is going to make an "A" loan, out of its own capital, totaling US$ 269 million and should obtain another US$ 379 million from commercial banks in a "B" loan, in a consortium led by BNP Paribas.
Located in Minas Gerais and Goiás, once they start operating the mills should produce 420 million liters of ethanol for the domestic market and generate their own electricity through the burning of bagasse (industrial residue).
In truth, according to the IDB, the co-generation technology to be used is so efficient that the mills should produce enough excess electricity to supply 400,000 Brazilian medium sized homes.
Fisheries
Agência USP informs that a research developed in the laboratories of the Public Health College shows new possibilities for inclusion of fish products in the Brazilian diet. From dehydrated fish, scientists produced soup and fish biscuits that were tested and approved in an acceptance study that also evaluated nutritional values of the products.
The fish soup was well accepted by 79% of a group of 100 children aged 4 to 7, in nurseries in Santos region, in the littoral of São Paulo state. The biscuits were tested by 40 adults in the laboratories of the Fish Institute in Santos, and were also well accepted.
Bulletin
The Central Bank of Brazil (BC) should present this Thursday, August 7, in the city of Recife, capital of the northeastern state of Pernambuco, the Regional Bulletin, to be published every three months. The objective is to create a profile of each of the regions of Brazil through figures and indicators.
During the event for release of the Bulletin, the Economic Policy director at the BC, Mário Mesquita, should present figures for several regions, but with special focus on the Northeast. The Regional Bulletin may be accessed on the BC Internet site (www.bcb.gov.br).
The National Food Supply Company (Conab) is also going to disclose, August 7, the results of the second to last research on the current grain crop. The 11th study of the 2007/08 cycle is going to register further growth in production. The announcement should be made at 9:30 am, at the Ministry of Agriculture.
The work analyzed summer and winter crops. The highlights of this edition are second-crop corn, the cultures of the Northeast (cotton, rice, beans and sorghum) and third-crop beans, which should start being harvested this month.
The field study was developed by 61 technicians at the state-owned organization, from July 14th to 18th. Last month Conab estimated grain production at 142.4 million tonnes.
Anba
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Brazil received a huge boost in its international image with its selection as the host of the 2016 Olympics, but it was really just the cherry on top of the overall recognition of the country's ascension to the ranks of one of the world's most important countries. Now, as it finally takes its place on the world scene, there has been a great deal of concern about what kind of image Brazil hopes to project, now that the world is really paying attention. 
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