Comments on: Jatropha: Biofuel Wonder Plant Fails to Deliver http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/05/07/biofuel-wonder-plant-fails-to-deliver/ Patriotism that loves our country, our land, and our planet Wed, 23 May 2012 01:08:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Kay Sexton http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/05/07/biofuel-wonder-plant-fails-to-deliver/comment-page-1/#comment-53774 Kay Sexton Sat, 09 May 2009 07:24:00 +0000 http://redgreenandblue.org/?p=3090#comment-53774 Kisabuli, I think that is again, a very justifiable point, although whether there could be enough economic return from Jatropha, as the market is currently constituted, to pay young people a fair wage is another matter. Using suitable biofuels to break dependency on oil imports is a highly valuable step on the way to breaking petroleum's stranglehold. Kisabuli, I think that is again, a very justifiable point, although whether there could be enough economic return from Jatropha, as the market is currently constituted, to pay young people a fair wage is another matter. Using suitable biofuels to break dependency on oil imports is a highly valuable step on the way to breaking petroleum's stranglehold.

]]> By: Kisabuli http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/05/07/biofuel-wonder-plant-fails-to-deliver/comment-page-1/#comment-53630 Kisabuli Fri, 08 May 2009 05:36:57 +0000 http://redgreenandblue.org/?p=3090#comment-53630 In Kenya, we have a very high number of our your men looking for work. If we can do nothing but find work for 10,000 of our young people to tend the jatropha fields, and get enough out of the returns, we would have justified the investment. The country imports 100% of its petroleum products. Any offset to this will be highly welcome. We would look at jatropha production from a very different set of eyes. We also understand that, yes, one has to provide inputs for a healthy plant. If we can get anyone out there with the know how, we have access to 25,000-50,000 acres for the planting of the crop, and for oil and electricity production. Kisabuli In Kenya, we have a very high number of our your men looking for work. If we can do nothing but find work for 10,000 of our young people to tend the jatropha fields, and get enough out of the returns, we would have justified the investment. The country imports 100% of its petroleum products. Any offset to this will be highly welcome.

We would look at jatropha production from a very different set of eyes. We also understand that, yes, one has to provide inputs for a healthy plant. If we can get anyone out there with the know how, we have access to 25,000-50,000 acres for the planting of the crop, and for oil and electricity production.

Kisabuli

]]> By: Kay Sexton http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/05/07/biofuel-wonder-plant-fails-to-deliver/comment-page-1/#comment-53599 Kay Sexton Fri, 08 May 2009 00:34:02 +0000 http://redgreenandblue.org/?p=3090#comment-53599 Actually, Tyson, I don't think there's any disagreement between my position and yours. Burma's problem is clearly one of political coercion and nothing to do with Jatropha as a product, but as I say, in India and Mali the biofuel is working brilliantly for local markets, what isn't working is the posited claim that biofuels like Jatropha can be grown on marginal land with no inputs AND contribute to the global demand for high quality internationally traded fuel. The first is achievable, possibly even achieved, but the second isn't - without inputs that are scarce and high value (water, fertiliser, labour) no biofuel can solve the problem alone, that requires a change in policy and fuel use, not a wonder-fuel. Actually, Tyson, I don't think there's any disagreement between my position and yours.

Burma's problem is clearly one of political coercion and nothing to do with Jatropha as a product, but as I say, in India and Mali the biofuel is working brilliantly for local markets, what isn't working is the posited claim that biofuels like Jatropha can be grown on marginal land with no inputs AND contribute to the global demand for high quality internationally traded fuel. The first is achievable, possibly even achieved, but the second isn't – without inputs that are scarce and high value (water, fertiliser, labour) no biofuel can solve the problem alone, that requires a change in policy and fuel use, not a wonder-fuel.

]]> By: Tyson Bennett http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/05/07/biofuel-wonder-plant-fails-to-deliver/comment-page-1/#comment-53566 Tyson Bennett Thu, 07 May 2009 20:43:27 +0000 http://redgreenandblue.org/?p=3090#comment-53566 Seriously for those of us our finger on the pulse of this industry this article is humorous. Firstly jatropha curcas is in high demand cerified seed is in very high demand and CJO (Crude Jatropha Oil) is now a highly prized comodity. I have orders for 30,000 tons a month and 15,000 tons a month repectively with two of my largest customers at 800 USD per Ton FOB. I'm selling every drop I get and madly looking for more. It seems that corporate America is the last to catch on that it is actually working for the farmers and the industry. The down turn shifted the focus off evironmental projects and onto survival for some of us. This is mostly due to the first generation biofuel technologies that the USA invested in so heavily. The cost to move to 2nd generation is just too great for most to bear in this current environment. Australian, Eupropean and Indian companies however have started by taking America's lead and moved on 2nd gen straight off the bat. As such they are having an easier time of it. Eviendence of a fast follower strategy's effectiveness in this case. As for Burma well its clear that it is the Junta not Jatropha that is soley to blame for the atrosities there. Trafficing in burmese CJO is similar to the blood diamond trade in nearly all minds of the industry leaders. Lets hope that a sustainable fuel energy is choosen by its merits not by the opinions of "green media". Kindest Regards, Tyson Bennett R&D Director tyson@BioSynergyFuels.com Seriously for those of us our finger on the pulse of this industry this article is humorous. Firstly jatropha curcas is in high demand cerified seed is in very high demand and CJO (Crude Jatropha Oil) is now a highly prized comodity. I have orders for 30,000 tons a month and 15,000 tons a month repectively with two of my largest customers at 800 USD per Ton FOB. I'm selling every drop I get and madly looking for more. It seems that corporate America is the last to catch on that it is actually working for the farmers and the industry. The down turn shifted the focus off evironmental projects and onto survival for some of us. This is mostly due to the first generation biofuel technologies that the USA invested in so heavily. The cost to move to 2nd generation is just too great for most to bear in this current environment. Australian, Eupropean and Indian companies however have started by taking America's lead and moved on 2nd gen straight off the bat. As such they are having an easier time of it. Eviendence of a fast follower strategy's effectiveness in this case. As for Burma well its clear that it is the Junta not Jatropha that is soley to blame for the atrosities there. Trafficing in burmese CJO is similar to the blood diamond trade in nearly all minds of the industry leaders. Lets hope that a sustainable fuel energy is choosen by its merits not by the opinions of "green media".

Kindest Regards,

Tyson Bennett

R&D Director

tyson@BioSynergyFuels.com

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