FAO warns developing countries against jatropha as miracle crop

In Italy, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) issued a report warning developing countries to not blindly buy into the ‘jatropha for biodiesel’ argument. Warning against the hype and half-truths surrounding jatropha curacas, the FAO warned that yields need to significantly improve in order for the crop to yield an adequate return for investors.

The FAO also questioned the argument that growing jatropha utilizes marginal lands effectively. Jatropha cultivated on degraded land may not be able to produce the level of economic returns needed to secure private sector investment. The FAO however does not completely rule out the use of jatropha but rather emphasized the urgent need for increased yields and more scientific research.

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Tags: FAO, jatropha

Category: Research