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The Crop
Jatropha curcas is a non-edible shrub that is native to Central America. Its seeds contain high amounts of oil that can be used for a wide variety of bio-based materials including biodiesel, energyor bioplastics. Because it is a non-edible feedstock, it does not compete with global food supplies, and it can be effectively harvested on abandoned land that is considered undesirable for food crops.
Yields
Current yields are proving to be profitable, and there is significant potential for improvement with proper plantation management and crop science. Oil content of a Jatropha seed ranges between 30 and 40 percent. The current yield is up to 300 gallons per acre, or 750 gallons per hectare, which is five times the yield of soy and twice that of rapeseed (canola). Through additional geneticimprovements, SG Biofuels can significantly improve its yield.
Commercial Viability
Goldman Sachs has cited Jatropha curcas as one of the best candidates for biodiesel production. Production costs are low – SG Biofuels can sustainably produce Jatropha oil at a more competitive cost than other feedstocks, including palm and soy. And, because Jatropha matures at different times on the same plant, the crop provides consistent yields and year-round employment. SG Biofuels has identified that the emerging economies of Central America present a unique opportunity to plant Jatropha. These countries have an abundance of low-cost land that is well-suited for Jatropha cultivation, as well as an ideal climate.
Oil Quality
Once harvested, the seeds are crushed and the resulting oil can be processed to produce high-quality biodiesel for a standard diesel engine (U.S. ASTM 6751 and E.U. EN14214 standards) or it can be used for other energy needs such as heating oil. Jatropha oil produced by SG Biofuels has been independently evaluated for its biodiesel qualities and verified to be a clean, stable source of fuel for biodiesel that meets or exceeds strict European specifications. In recent independent testing, SG Biofuels’ Central American Jatropha out performed palm, soy and Jatropha from India on two differentiating criteria: low temperature performance and long term storage stability.
Sustainability
The sustainable cultivation of Jatropha cultivation can bring economic benefits to communities while reducing the environmental impacts typically associated with other biofuel feedstocks. SG Biofuels is planting Jatropha curcas because it does not compete with food production, lends itself to sustainable and environmentally positive development and enables carbon neutral energy production. Our Jatropha is grown on abandoned land that is considered undesirable for other crops. Jatropha can be fertilized with processing waste or “seedcake,” reducing requirements for chemical and petroleum based fertilizers.
When grown in appropriate climates, such as Central America, Jatropha can be effectively cultivated primarily with rainwater, minimizing the need for irrigation or use of groundwater supplies. A Jatropha plantation also creates a positive ecological impact, creating a revitalized ecosystem and soil regeneration.
Fuel vs Food
The use of edible feedstocks in energy production has caused significant controversy. Wide fluctuations in oil prices and the quest for the reduction of carbon emissions have contributed to making many feedstocks, such as corn, soybean, rapeseed and palm oils, viable energy solutions. In addition, many governments have enacted incentives for renewable energy (i.e. the U.S. $1 per gallon subsidy for blending biodiesel). The result has been higher food prices.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, in 2007 the U.S. used 18 to 20 percent of its total corn crop for the production of ethanol, and in 2008 that was predicted to jump to 25 percent. And that increase, says Marshall Martin, an agriculture economist at Purdue University, "is the main driver behind the price increase for corn".
The jump in corn prices is already affecting the cost of food. The most notable example is in Mexico, which gets much of its corn from the United States, the price of corn tortillas doubled, according to press reports, setting off large protest marches in Mexico City. It's almost certain that most of the rise in corn prices is due to the U.S. ethanol policy, says David Victor, director of the Program on Energy and Sustainable Development at Stanford University. As a result, all edible feedstocks are falling out of favor and more research is going into crops that can be converted to energy without competing with food. Without the need for heavy watering or the best land, Jatropha doesn’t compete with edible crops. SG Biofuels is planting Jatropha on wasteland, over grazed fields or abandoned farmland. Growing Jatropha sustainably has the power to improve the soil for future generations. Non-edible Jatropha is being heralded as one of the best crops for producing plant oil for energy use.
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