Discussion Group: Agronomy

Jatropha Agronomy – Key issues

• Key issues:- Seed quality has to be improved constantly and access to seed

breeding has to be provided for Jatropha growers- Issues around toxicity of Jatropha to be solved- Very little knowledge is available on what Jatropha actually

needs – What are suitable agroeconomic regions in terms of rainfall, temperature etc.

- Harvesting and post harvest technology (storage, extraction, application)

- Agricultutral practices are there in the field but are not systematically documented – there is a lack of coordinative exchange/information

Jatropha Agronomy – Opportunities

• Opportunities: - Applications of Jatropha as a raw material for

chemicals or as a pesticide- Additional income for rural areas and - Figthing land degradation and revorering land- Large market opportunities of biofuels- Introduce better agricultural practices in gerneral - Introduction of principles of conservation agriculture- Provide energy to rural areas- Carbon sequestration

Jatropha Agronomy – Priorities for research

• Priorities for research and further work- Technical papers / handbooks on agricultural practice- Training centers including training materials for farmers /

operators- Research on intercropping options and practices- Capacity building for local communities for the whole Jatropha

value chains - Development of PPP models- Set-up of national centers of excellence on Jatropha cultivation

with a coordinating international center (doing publications etc.)- Alterantive models for the use of main and by-product as well

as technology and business cases for extraction and transformation

- Every country should have a body to promote biofuels/Jatropha