Key Strengths
- Jatropha has the potential, through varietal improvement and good farming practices, for a high level of oil production per unit area in the subhumid tropical and subtropical environments.
- Jatropha grows and is potentially productive in semi-arid areas on degraded and saline soils.
- Jatropha can be used for halting and reversing land degradation.
- Jatropha grows fast, as compared to many other tree-borne oilseeds.
- Jatropha remain small, enabling ease of management.
- Jatropha has periodic leaf shedding which facilitates nutrient recycling and dry season irrigated intercropping with short-term crops.
- Jatropha oil has physical and chemical properties that makes it highly suitable for processing into biodiesel.
- Jatropha oil can be used directly in suitable engines and turbines in the transportation and power-plant sector
- Jatropha by-products have potential value, such as using seed cake as fertilizer, animal feed (non-toxic varieties) or biogas, and using fruit shells and seed husks for biogas and combustion.
- Jatropha seeds are storable and processing can be delayed, which makes production suited to remote areas.
- Continuous Jatropha plant breeding increases the likelihood of developing Jatropha varieties with improved and stable oil yields.
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