Speakers at a world sugar conference told growers a surge in oil prices was an opportunity for policymakers to consider building ethanol plants to stabilize the sugar market, reduce oil bills and reduce pollution.

According to attendees from France, that nation will become the world's fourth largest ethanol producer after Brazil, the United States and Canada by 2003. The nation plans to use sugar beets and wheat as production feedstocks.

Spain, Sweden and the Netherlands have also recently begun ethanol production initiatives.