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livingontheland - [Livingontheland] Growing Jatropha for biofuel

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Chronological Thread  
  • From: "Douglas Willhite" <drwillhite@earthlink.net>
  • To: <livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org>, "Peter Crisp" <peter.crisp@adelaide.edu.au>
  • Subject: [Livingontheland] Growing Jatropha for biofuel
  • Date: Sun, 16 Sep 2007 15:25:03 -0700

With Bio-fuels BP is looking at a plant called Jatropha in India as a source
of Diesel replacement. This plant is a native of Mexico and grows in otherwise
non-arable lands, live for 50 years and inprove the soil and are not
susceptible to many pests and diseases.. It reads like a perfect weed but there
is more than one way to produce Bio-fuels and not all are as offensive of using
food crops and good land for probably energy negative crops.

Pete C

Toxic jatropha not magic biofuel crop, experts warn
Reuters
Oilseed plant jatropha does not offer an easy answer to biofuels problems as some countries hope, because it can be toxic and yields are unreliable, experts and industry officials warned on Wednesday.

The woody plant can grow on barren, marginal land, and so is increasingly popular in countries such as China that are keen to boost biofuels output but nervous about food security.

But its nuts and leaves are toxic, requiring careful handling by farmers and at crushing plants, said experts at an oils and fats conference.

In addition, it is a labor-intensive crop as each fruit ripens at a different time and needs to be harvested separately. Its productivity is also low and has yet to be stabilized.
(12 September 2007)




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