American Ethanol Spring 2017 | Page 6

Alyssa and Jeff Broin confer at the 2017 Executive
Leadership Conference .
( continued from previous page )
“ I truly have a passion for the ethanol industry and the many ways it can improve people ’ s lives ,” Broin explained . So in 2011 , he launched Seeds of Change to spread agriculture technology throughout Africa . Out of that came Mission Greenhouse , a multi-year project to construct a school for disadvantaged girls in Kenya , Africa , which is supported by Seeds of Change . “ Underprivileged girls wouldn ’ t be able to attend school without this opportunity ,” said Broin .
In addition , Broin and his family support several other philanthropic projects in Africa , Haiti , and the United States . One of the largest projects involves working with 80,000 farmers in Kenya to triple farm income in about two years . “ We ’ ve seen tremendous success with this ,” said Broin , who also supports the distribution of ethanol-powered cookstoves in Haiti . Approximately 3 billion people — about half of the world ’ s population — cook with wood and charcoal , which causes significant health effects and is deforesting the planet , Broin noted . “ We believe wood should be replaced by ethanol , which can help clean up the air and improve people ’ s health .”
The ethanol business has always been a family affair for Broin and his wife , Tammie , and they are proud their three children are starting to take

“ Opportunity is everywhere if you know where to look .” interest in the family business . Tammie is involved in the work in Africa ; daughter Alyssa is now Jeff ’ s executive coordinator ; daughter Miranda also works with Seeds of Change and writes articles and speeches for POET ; and his son Austin has worked two summers at Project Liberty in Emmetsburg , Iowa .

Ask Broin for three words to describe ethanol , and he ’ s quick to respond : “ American , powerful , and healthy . Every parent should be concerned with what ’ s coming out of their vehicle ’ s tailpipe . Ethanol removes cancer-causing components from gasoline and other toxins that can contribute to autism . The more ethanol we use , the cleaner those emissions will be .”
This is especially valuable in urban areas , where smog and pollution can pose major health threats . “ My family and I want to do everything we can to help others , especially people living in cities where smog is a challenge ,” Broin said . “ We can help eliminate smog and cancer-causing components from gasoline if ethanol is allowed to grow , and that ’ s exciting .”
Broin is always looking for the next opportunity , and he sees it in cellulosic ethanol , which is produced from the fiber of the plant . POET ’ s cellulosic plant in Emmetsburg , Iowa , has been online for two years and is running well . “ We are very excited about the potential that cellulosic ethanol offers to replace even more carcinogens and other harmful components in gasoline ,” Broin said . There are tremendous synergies between cellulosic ethanol production and starch-based ethanol production , he added . “ I predict that every starchbased ethanol plant in America will have a cellulosic plant adjacent to it in the next 20 years .”
Broin is energized by the future of ethanol , which helps lower the price consumers pay at the pump , while offering more options to help protect the environment . And agriculture needs more ethanol production to use up surplus supplies of ag commodities , which currently are the highest stocks in the history of the world . “ We can drive America towards energy independence and export clean energy in the future , while cleaning up our air and driving rural and nationwide economic development ,” said Broin , who is proud that POET employs more than 1,800 people . “ There are tremendous opportunities here .”
It ’ s almost hard to believe it all started with a bankrupt ethanol plant and a dream more than 30 years ago . “ I could have never foreseen the growth and success POET and the ethanol industry have experienced ,” Broin said . “ Opportunity is everywhere , if you know where to look .”
6
AMERICAN ETHANOL THE MAGAZINE