What is Jatropha?

Jatropha Curcas is a robust and relatively drought resistant, sustainable crop that can grow on several different types of land. Its cultivation process is one that can help build economies of under developed countries. Fortunately, these countries are where jatropha tends to grow.

To understand jatropha as a biofuel, let’s first clarify what is meant by the term “biofuel”.

Biofuel is defined as a solid, liquid or gaseous fuel derived from recently dead biological material. Therefore, in essence, biofuels can be produced from any biological carbon source. The most commonly used source is photosynthetic plants. These are known collectively as “feedstock”.

Compelling Reasons Why Bedford Biofuels has Chosen Jatropha as its Feedstock of Choice:

  • The harvestable seeds are inedible and, therefore, will not compete with food crops or have any type of negative impact on the rise of food prices globally
  • The jatropha plant only needs to be planted once and will yield fruit for up to 50 years vs. other feedstock that needs to endure the time, effort and expense of annual planting
  • The seeds yield the highest oil output, thereby reducing the cost of production and the amount of energy required to produce the end biodiesel product
  • With this high oil output, Jatropha production uses the least amount of energy to plant and harvest, making it an environmentally friendly feedstock
  • The plants are planted 4-5 meters apart to allow for intercropping, which permits the land to be used for multiple purposes
  • The farming and harvesting of jatropha on these plantations aids the local economy and helps combat poverty