era ard biofuels
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KNOWLEDGE FOR LIFE DEVELOPMENT projects As fossil fuel prices increase and concerns about climate change grow, bioenergy crops have gained international prominence. so what’s the problem? Increasing demand for bioenergy crops could lead to conflict, particularly in the tropics where the need to produce food is paramount. Growing such crops could also lead to increased deforestation, where large scale forest land conversions are initiated. Some think smallholder farmers could incorporate the production of bioenergy crops into their current land use systems, growing such crops alongside food crops without jeopardizing their own food security. This would increase the smallholders’ cash flow and enable them to intensify food production. Jatropha curcas is a Euphorbiaceae (from the spurge family), native to Central America and cultivated throughout the tropics. Its seeds are rich in oil (27–40 per cent) which, using low-tech extraction techniques, is suitable for biodiesel. The plant is being promoted in several regions worldwide and especially in the two primary project countries, Mexico and India. Following insurgent activity in the planned field work area in India, in 2010 project activities were moved to Mali, and then, after the coup d’état in Mali in March 2012, to Burkina Faso. In Mexico, where the plant is native, it is traditionally planted as a hedge. Large scale planting was initiated in 2006, particularly in Chiapas and Veracruz. In India, large-scale land conversions to Jatropha have been initiated in several states. In Burkina Faso and Mali farmers have been encouraged to plant Jatropha as part of an intercropping system or as hedges, with support from local extension workers. So far, however, little is known about basic agronomy and ecological impacts across different agro-eco-regions. locations India, Mexico, Mali, Burkina Faso dates June 2009 – February 2013 project team Marc Kenis Tim Haye Carol Ellison Steve Edgington Sean Murphy investigating the impacts of Jatropha curcas production
description
Project flyer about our work on the biofuel crop jatropha and associated land use change
Transcript of era ard biofuels
KNOWLEDGE FOR LIFE
development projects
As fossil fuel prices increase and concerns about climate change grow, bioenergy crops have gained international prominence.
so what’s the problem?Increasing demand for bioenergy crops could lead to conflict, particularly in the tropics where the need to produce food is paramount. Growing such crops could also lead to increased deforestation, where large scale forest land conversions are initiated. Some think smallholder farmers could incorporate the production of bioenergy crops into their current land use systems, growing such crops alongside food crops without jeopardizing their own food security. This would increase the smallholders’ cash flow and enable them to intensify food production.
Jatropha curcas is a Euphorbiaceae (from the spurge family), native to Central America and cultivated throughout the tropics. Its seeds are rich in oil (27–40 per cent) which, using low-tech extraction techniques, is suitable for biodiesel. The plant is being promoted in several regions worldwide and especially in the two primary project countries, Mexico and India. Following insurgent activity in the planned field work area in India, in 2010 project activities were moved to Mali, and then, after the coup d’état in Mali in March 2012, to Burkina Faso.
In Mexico, where the plant is native, it is traditionally planted as a hedge. Large scale planting was initiated in 2006, particularly in Chiapas and Veracruz. In India, large-scale land conversions to Jatropha have been initiated in several states. In Burkina Faso and Mali farmers have been encouraged to plant Jatropha as part of an intercropping system or as hedges, with support from local extension workers. So far, however, little is known about basic agronomy and ecological impacts across different agro-eco-regions.
locationsIndia, Mexico, Mali, Burkina Faso
datesJune 2009 – February 2013
project teamMarc KenisTim HayeCarol EllisonSteve EdgingtonSean Murphy
investigating the impacts of Jatropha curcas production
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what is this project doing?The primary project involved six partner teams from Mexico, India, Belgium, Spain, Switzerland and the UK, with specific additional input from partners in Mali and, in the final year, Burkina Faso.
The aim was to assess the profitability, economic, social and environmental impacts of the production of the bioenergy crop Jatropha. The data obtained should enable us to identify the most suitable eco-regions for maximizing yields, taking into account different pests and diseases, production methods (smallholder versus large-scale planting), and economic, social and environmental production risks. A further objective was to identify shortfalls in land tenure systems or law, and develop legislation to ensure the social sustainability and equity of future bioenergy projects.
Studies on Jatropha were carried out in Mexico (Chiapas and Veracruz), northern India (Uttar Pradesh), Mali (Sikasso and Koulikoro) and Burkina Faso (Sissili). Where possible, three eco-regions along rainfall gradients were chosen in each country for the study. Activities were divided into three work packages:
• categorizationofexistingbioenergysystems• assessmentofenvironmentalimpacts• socioeconomicimpactassessmentanddissemination
results so farThe project is continuing, and data is still being analyzed. The main findings to date include:
• Jatrophaproductioninpartsofallregionsisbeingseriouslycurtailedbyinsectandpathogenattack• lowpriceofJatropha seed and labour competition are the main concerns among producers with
established crops• thereisnoevidencethatJatrophaisaninvasivespeciesinthestudyareasinAfrica
contactCABI, Rue des Grillons 1, CH-2800 Delémont, SwitzerlandT: +41 (0)32 421 4870 F: +41 (0)32 421 4871 E: [email protected] www.cabi.org/switzerland
www.cabi.org/era-ardbiofuelsID
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Marc Kenis, Project Manager
partners
Centro Tecnológico Forestal de Catalunya, Solsona, Spain
Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias, Veracruz, Mexico
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
UTTHAN, Allahabad, India
Mali Biocarburant and Faso Biocarburant
Mali-Folkecenter
sponsors
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
Swiss Agency for Development & Cooperation (SDC)
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