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Jatropha Plantation Benefits
Despite the fact that biodiesel feedstock can be
extracted from over 80 known plant species,
Jatropha is unique among biodiesel oil feedstock
crops because:
* It is drought-resistant
* It has the ability to grow in poor quality,
marginal and otherwise infertile soil
* It requires little water and maintenance
These benefits mean that Jatropha (for BioDiesel)
production does not have to compete with land
areas targeted for food production, as it will
grow on land that would otherwise go unused.
(Note: Although Jatropha is hardy and survives
well in most soil, Jatropha oil-seed production
is higher in better quality soils.)
Yet another benefit of Jatropha is that the
plants continue harvesting for more than 50
years. However, the problem with traditional
Jatropha plantations is that it takes several
years to see a first harvest and quite a few
more years before the full potential of the crop
is realized. In order to accelerate the harvest
of Jatropha plant oil, JatrophaTech has
developed a proprietary process that rapidly
increases the growth rate of Jatropha seedlings.
it is also vital to remember that when growing
Jatropha a 50 year investment is being made.
Planting the best stock is essential, and it is
here that the "aero-cloning" technology really
comes into its own by helping to clone top
quality plants.
When this technology is combined with the highly ethical stand that Jatrophatech takes, the benefits to the environment and the locals is clear. Jatrophatech works with local farmers to ensure that the land that is used for the plantation is not being taken from land that is used to grow food. That is simply unacceptable.
The land that JatrophaTech uses is always wasteland or land that is not used for anything else. It is not rainforest that has been cleared.
JatrophaTech
is growing tomorrows fuel - ethically.
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