What’s Jatropha
Jatropha Curcas Linn (Used for Biofuel)
Significant independent research on the qualities and benefits of Jatropha Curcas Plantations can be found on the internet.
There is no doubt at all about it doing what it promises and governments throughout the world are planning enormous plantations of Jatropha for biofuel use.
The great things about Jatropha are:
• Reduces carbon emissions by up to 80%
• It can be used as a direct substitute to traditional fuel
• It is a renewable and sustainable source of energy.
• It’s an oil seed tree.
• It produces very high quality green oil. Biofuel/Biodiesel
• It has a very high yield – 1,000+ litres a year per acre
• It can be grown in land that is unsuitable for food production.
• It produces conservatively one litre of green oil per year, per jatropha tree which can be enhanced through fertilisation and biotechnology quite significantly
• It can also (from the residues after crushing) produce nitrogen-rich fertiliser, medicines and latex.
• It will only grow satisfactorily within the Tropics (+/- 30º latitude) so it is ideal for farming in poverty-stricken regions.
• Propagates rapidly (reproduces)
• Is highly resistant to drought and poor soil conditions
• Requires minimal maintenaIn its first five years of life, a Jatropha tree is best employed producing more Jatropha trees – the sustainable rate is 600-1200 new seedlings per single tree per year.
For the remaining 35 to 40 years of its life, the tree is used for producing oil. Each Jatropha tree can (conservatively) produce one litre of high quality oil per year.
Jatropha Curcas
Jatropha Curcas is a perennial crop renowned for is drought resistant and poor soil growing capabilities as much as it is for its green oil production. Originally from the South Americas, Jatropha Curcas is now widely seen in many tropical locations where it is most suited.
Commercially, Jatropha has some significant qualities which make it ideal for green oil production as the ‘Oil Tree’:
- Propagates rapidly (reproduces)
- Is highly resistant to drought and poor soil conditions
- Requires minimal maintenance and husbandry implementable without mechanisation and capital equipment expense
- Produces conservatively one litre of green oil per year per jatropha tree which can be enhanced through fertilisation and biotechnology quite significantly
- Has ultimately a low capital cost per jatropha tree resulting in attractive financial returns for jatropha tree owners.
Significant independent research on the qualities and benefits of Jatropha Curcas Plantations can be found on the internet.
The programme managers having spent many years with Jatropha Curcas plantations is debatably market leading with the Tree and Lease Ownership programmes which open up the renewable markets to everyone.
- Jatropha trees are an established source of green oil which is already used to power transport and can be used for large scale of green energy production.
- Green oil is a renewable source of energy and is very nearly carbon neutral in use.
- Jatropha grows well in soil which is unfit for food production and its farming is therefore a potential way for third world countries to grow themselves out of poverty.
- The returns for farmers are less than they could get from food, so there is no temptation to divert valuable agricultural land into oil production.
- As well as green oil, the jatropha trees produce fertilizer, latex and certain medicinal by-products.
