This document summarizes research on the potential of Jatropha curcas as a biodiesel feedstock. It provides background on the history and traditional uses of Jatropha, and discusses early experiments by Thomas Edison and Rudolf Diesel. The document then reviews a study that found over 13 million hectares of Jatropha in production globally by 2015. However, productivity remains a challenge due to variable yields and environmental conditions. The document advocates for research and development to improve agronomic practices, identify high-yielding varieties, and increase oil content to help realize Jatropha's potential as a sustainable biodiesel crop.

1. Jatropha curcas
From Potential to Kinetic Energy
Roy Beckford
University of Florida, IFAS,
Lee County, Florida
239-533-7512
fbeck@ufl.edu

2. In the beginning there was
biodiesel…
• “The use of Vegetable
oils (Bio Diesel) for
engines may seem
insignificant today. But
such oils may become
in course of time as
important as Petroleum
and Coal tar products
of the present time" -
Rudolf Diesel, 1912

3. History of Jatropha curcas (Jc)
• Used by indigenous
peoples in the
Caribbean and Latin
America
• Used for medicine
(internal and external)
and food (seed for
snack; leaves cooked
with meats)

4. History of Jatropha curcas (Jc)
• Intercropped with corn
in Haiti
• Leaves used in religious
rituals
• Seeds are crushed in a
mortar and pestle and
boiled to release oil
• This culture has been
practiced for more than
200 years

5. Making Connections
• Edison studied
Jatropha curcas
plant to
determine its
potential for
producing rubber
Thomas Edison Jatropha tree at Edison
1847 - 1931 House, Fort Myers, Fl.
Planted in 1929

6. • Potential energy is
energy that is stored
in an object.
• Kinetic energy is
energy of motion.
• Potential and
kinetic energy are
energy partners.

7. The State of Jatropha Energy
GEXSI…
Conducted he first
worldwide study
assessing the current
status of Jatropha
projects.
The project was
conducted on behalf
of the WWF, providing
input for the
Roundtable on
Global Exchange for Social Investment
Sustainable Biofuels.

8. The State of Jatropha Energy
Hectares under production
GEXSI interviewed 170 experts in 55 countries and collected
160 online questionnaires to create the first online inventory
of Jatropha projects

9. The State of Jatropha Energy
• The largest Jatropha projects are government
initiatives that typically work with smallholder
farmers in Asia and Africa.
• The biggest private companies in the field
regarding planted acreages are:
- D1-BP Fuel Crops (Asia and Africa)
- Mission Biofuels (Asia)
- Sunbiofuels (Ethiopia, Tanzania, Mozambique)
- GEM Biofuels (Madagascar)

10. The State of Jatropha Energy
• Major oil companies (e.g. in China) are
devising their market entry.
• This suggests that the industry structure
will change dramatically in the next few
years with large (multi-)national energy
and oil companies entering the field.
• What are the implications for smaller
established farmers/investors?

11. Shifting Gears…Moving from
‘Potential’ to ‘Kinetic’
13,000,000 hectares
2015
P
R
O
D
U
C
T
I
O
N
2008 900,000 hectares
PRODUCTIVITY
2008 2015

12. What is Driving ‘Production’
Production is driven by climbing crude oil
prices and the quest for larger volumes of
alternative and sustainable feedstock.
• We are at the dawn of the bio-dieselization of
American farms and industry
• Jatropha shows significant promise, even as it
remains largely scientifically unexploited, and
thus a largely undomesticated crop
• It originated in the Americas, making it suitable
for regional attention
• Its on everyone’s top 10 list of biodiesel crops

13. Current Oil Yield Patterns
• Studies conducted by IPGRI,
CGIAR, University of
Hohenheim Stuttgart, indicate
an average seed yield per
shrub of 15 kilograms or 33
pounds.
• Collections by this author from
various shrubs grown as
ornamentals, indicate a range
of 25 to 42 pounds of seeds
per shrub per year.

14. Current Oil Yield Patterns
Known values for ‘undomesticated’ Jatropha:
• 1 gallon of Jatropha oil weighs 7.7 lbs
• Specific gravity of curcas oil = .9186
• Seeds equal 70% of fruit weight
• 35%-38% seed oil content occurs regularly
• In the areas of origin, Jatropha plants reach
maturity at three years and will continue to yield
optimally for 30 or more years.

15. Current Oil Yield Patterns
Doing the math (Data from 1 four year old
shrub chosen at random)
• Shrub yield (fruit) = 60 lbs
• Seed yield (after hulling) = 42 lbs
• Seed oil content = 35% (of seed weight)
• .35 X 42 = 14.7 lbs of oil
• 1 gallon of curcas oil weighs 7.7 lbs
• 14.7 7.7 = 1.9 gallons

16. Jatropha yield projections
Forecasted yield per acre (# of seedlings/acre = 640)
Year Yield per Pounds % oil Wt. of Gallons Estimated Estimated
shrub oil of price of value of oil
(lbs) oil oil (unit) (total)*
1 5 3200 36 1,152 149.6 $3.50 $523.60
2 10 6400 36 2,304 299.2 $3.50 $1047.20
3 20 12,800 36 4,608 598.4 $3.50 $2,094.40

17. Jatropha yield projections
Best case (ideal) scenario at year 3; yield per acre
Year Yield per Pounds % oil Wt. of oil Gallons Estimated Estimated
shrub of oil price of value of
(lbs) oil oil
(unit) (total)*
3 40 25,600 9,728 1,263.37 $3.50 $4,421.79
38

18. Shifting to Higher Gear…Moving
into ‘Kinetic’ Phase
13,000,000 hectares
2015
P
R
O
D
U
C
T
I
O
N
2008 900,000 hectares
PRODUCTIVITY
2008 2015

19. Productivity…The Soybean
Example
• Average yield of soy per decade indicates
that the yields increased from 14 bushels
per acre in the 1920s to 43 bushels per
acre in the 1990s, a threefold increase.
• Continued yield improvements can be
expected in the future as new pest-
resistant varieties are released and
management is fine-tuned.
IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY - Iowa Agricultural Statistics.

20. Making the case for R&D…The
Soybean Example
• Transgenic soybeans are the result of
incorporating a foreign gene into the DNA of the
soybean plant.
• The most popular example currently of a
transgenic soybean Roundup Ready soybeans
which were planted on an estimated 70 percent
of North Dakota soybean acres in 2003.
North Dakota State University Agriculture and University Extension

21. Production to Productivity
Challenges
• Dealing with the variable yields and needs of
Jatropha plants across regions of production
• Matching the right ‘variety’ of Jatropha to the
right region of in which it will be produced
• Productivity variables include site specific
nutrient availability and plant needs, water
requirements, fruit and seed oil yields, fruiting
periods, susceptibility to local pests and endemic
diseases
• Variables need to be tackled in order to
stimulate and maintain high levels of productivity
in the future

22. What Will Drive Crop ‘Productivity’
• Provide optimum growing conditions (BMP’s)
• Pruning is essential (Manual or Mechanical)
• Flowering and pollination improvements
• Identification of distinct varieties (existing)
• R&D for high yielding cultivars/hybrids (high fruit
bearing)
• R&D for increase in seed oil content
• R&D for cold tolerance
• Older fields will benefit from high yield
genotypes (budding/grafting experiments)

23. A summary of objectives and findings on
Jatropha curcas production in Florida.
• To determine drought tolerance of the species
• To assess the impact of flooding and frost on the species
ability to survive in Florida
• To document the occurrence of non-introduced pests and
diseases on the plants
• To evaluate the effect of pruning on flowering, and on fruiting
yields
• To estimate preliminary oil yields in South Florida conditions
• To provide an open and interactive environment of information
exchange with farmers
• To provide UF/IFAS scientific disciplines with empirical data
collected from the project to inform ongoing research and
development work.
Roy Beckford/Martha C. Avila and Collaborators

24. Optimum Growing Conditions
• Soil pH (6.8 – 8.0 tolerated)
• 24 inches of rain or irrigation equivalent
• Provision of organic nutrients
• Spacing (dependent on soil nutrients)
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
• Avoid extended flooding (> 2 days) at all
costs!!

25. Waterlogged Jatropha
• Affected plants tested positive for phytopthora
root rot (after 3 days of standing water)

26. Example of ‘Optimum’ Conditions

27. Pruning – early spring/early fall

28. Effects of Pruning
• Increases terminal
branching
• Stimulates
increased flowering
• Increase fruit yield
by more than 25%
• Provides fruiting
uniformity

29. Flowering and Pollination
• Honey bees provide excellent pollination of
Jatropha curcas (as observed in Florida)
• Identifying the most proficient pollinators is a key
step toward productivity goals

30. Pruning + Flowering + Pollination +
= Fruit Uniformity

31. Uniformity
Photo taken at 10 acre Jatropha farm belonging to Bryan Beer II, Labelle, Florida

32. Uniformity aids Mechanical
Harvesting
www.oxbocorp.com

33. R&D for Higher Yielding Plants
• Selection of plants from high yield sources (mother
trees)
• Selection should aim at pest and disease resistant stock
R&D objectives will include:
• Gene manipulation for higher and improved fruit yields
on individual shrubs, combined with higher oil content
increases in seeds.
• Creating resistance to fungal diseases to which
Jatropha curcas is currently susceptible.
• Improved tolerances or resistance to pests which feed
on the plant and are disease pathogens.
• Development of plants that bear sterile seeds
(controversial).

34. Pests and Diseases Observed
• Army worms
• Aphids
• Papaya mealy bug
• Leaf spot/Leaf rust
• Collar rot
• Citrus root weevil
(Pachnaeus sp.)

35. Damage from Citrus Root Weevil

36. Collar Rot Disease

37. Effect of Frost (before)
December 20/07 (Before Frost)

38. Effect of Frost (after)
January 5/ 08 (Morning after second consecutive night of frost… 24 Degrees F)

39. Effect of Frost (after)
January 19/08 – 2 weeks later

40. Effect of Frost
May 15/08 (effects of January frost not noticeable)

41. Effect of Frost (control plot)
• January 5, 2008; 8:30 AM

42. Beginning of Rainy Season; July
2008 (control plot)

43. Plants at 6ft Tall – February 09
(control plot)

44. Budding/Grafting Experiments
• Jatropha curcas can be propagated
by seed as well as by vegetative
means
• Vegetative propagation includes
cuttings, grafting, budding and air
layering techniques
• Existing fields will benefit from
these techniques as a means of
improving yield and productivity
patterns

45. Vegetative Propagation - Cuttings
• Jatropha grows well from
cuttings
• Trees from cuttings show a
lower longevity (IPGRI)
• True taproots are not
developed, rather…
• Pseudo taproots are formed
which grow to ½ the depth
of true taproots
• Trees with pseudo taproots
are more susceptible to
drought and wind
conditions**
**There is emerging evidence
to debate this information
Seedling showing taproot

46. Micro-plants Production
Various techniques are currently
been used
• Clonal propagation is the fastest way
to develop high-yielding varieties
CAVEATS!
• Garbage in, garbage out
• Results in cytoplasmic uniformity
• Cytoplasmic uniformity presents
major pros and cons

47. Utilization Routes
Energy Routes
• Curcas oil
• Biodiesel (trans-esterification)
• Biomass to bio-gas (methane)
Non-energy Routes
• Leaf litter compost
• Biomass to organic fertilizer
• Biomass to bio-char
• Organic insect repellents
• Medicinal glycerin
Nature.com

48. Income Streams
1. Carbon Credits
2. Intercropping (Peanut and Perennial peanut)
3. Silviculture
4. Jatropha Oil (video http://www.agoilpress.com/video.php?type=jatropha2)
5. Seed
6. Pressed Cake
7. Fruit Hulls (husks)
8. Glycerin

49. Global Exchange for Social
Investment…findings
• Jatropha has not contributed to the destruction of
primary forest according to GEXSI data sample, only
0.3% of any cultivated areas were previously primary
forest, and 5% secondary forests.
• Political support for Jatropha is already strong, and
developing further. Especially in Asia, governments have
been the main driver for Jatropha cultivation and
developed specific Jatropha programs.
• Rising crude oil prices are now creating a strong demand
for biofuels, therefore, large oil and energy
conglomerates are beginning to implement large-scale
Jatropha projects.
•Global Market Study on Jatropha © GEXSI LLP 2008

50. Global Exchange for Social
Investment…findings
• Production is focused on domestic markets
• Production for local markets is more important than
export, especially in Asia.
• For domestic markets, the use of unrefined Jatropha oil
is seen as equally important as the trans-esterification
into biodiesel.
• Jatropha is typically planted using semi-intensive
methods
• Most Jatropha plantations have nurseries and apply
cultivation techniques such as pruning or fertilization.
• About half of the projects use some type of irrigation.
•Global Market Study on Jatropha © GEXSI LLP 2008 15

51. Thanks
Roy Beckford
University of Florida,
IFAS,
Lee County, Florida
239-533-7512
fbeck@ufl.edu