Trans-Asia abandons jatropha in Philippines; cites poor results from pilot

In the Philippines, The Inquirer is reporting that Trans-Asia is abandoning its plans to develop a jatropha-based biodiesel business, saying that results from its pilot jatropha project suggested that the plant required “huge amounts of water” and intensive oversight to realize yields that were economically viable.

The company has had a 10-acre pilot farm in Batangas, and has originally aimed to supply biodiesel towards the Philippines 2 percent biodiesel mandate.

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