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Jatropha has the potential to become one of the worlds key energy crops. Crude vegetable oil, extracted from the seeds of the jatropha plant, can be refined into high quality biodiesel.
Jatropha’s natural home is Brazil. From ancient times extracts from its leaves and seeds have been used as medicines. Jatropha’s medical qualities derive from curcin, a chemical present in the plant’s
shoots and leaves, which is effective as an antiseptic but can be toxic if ingested in large quantities.
Jatropha is a quick yielding species and grows readily from cuttings or seeds. It is good grove material for eco-restoration. It is highly pest and disease resistant. Jatropha removes carbon from the atmosphere, stores it in the woody tissues and assists in the build up of soil carbon.
The seeds are crushed to produce oil for esterifying into biodiesel. The residual meal (seedcake) left after oil extraction is an excellent organic fertiliser. |
