The potential for sustainability policies to create new markets: a case study of European Union sustainability policies and Brazilian bioenergy

The sustainability policies in the European Union are potentially creating high value niche markets for developing and emerging economies. This thesis examines the feasibility of Brazil developing a sustainable biofuels industry targeted at niche markets created by European Union renewable energy and sustainability policies. Brazil is used as a case study of a developing country producer economy due to its high technological and agricultural capacity with regard to biofuels, its domestic biofuels market, its place as an innovator in developing biofuels, and its strong government support for its biofuels programs. Thus, the Brazilian market is uniquely poised to take advantage of value-added niche markets created by policies in the European Market. This study specifically addresses the feasibility for Brazil to target European niche markets for sustainable biofuel, in terms of fiscal, political, and sustainability factors, by analysing stakeholder relationships, capacity for innovation and adaptation, and regulatory change.