Sustainable biodiesel feedstock. Jatropha: a strategic option |
Nov 2007
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This position paper by KnowGenix, in line with JatrophaWorld 2008, discusses the sustainability of non-food crops such as Jatropha against the backdrop of current biofuel policies and initiatives in developing regions. It looks at the broader issues concerning the advocacy of food and non-food crops needing large scale chemical inputs based on fossil fuels, large scale deforestation and mono-cropping techniques to feed the planned mega biodiesel projects.
It attempts to answer the following pressing questions about Jatropha based projects:
- Is Jatropha really the best among energy crops and does it leave the least environmental footprint?
- What are the impacts of large scale Jatropha plantations being planned in developing nations to feed the energy demands of the western world?
- How does the Jatropha economics work for the developing nations?
- To what extent is it more conducive in reducing GHG emissions?
- Is Jatropha cultivation and propagation sustainable globally to feed the needed market demand?
- Is biotechnology the answer to optimize Jatropha cultivation?
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