20-22 Oct, 2008 - Hamburg, GERMANY
Le Royal Meridien
Le Royal Meridien
Jatropha cultivation is being embraced as a tool for poverty alleviation in some of the poorest regions across the world, with studies being done into the use of Jatropha oil and Jatropha biodiesel for rural electrification, transport, and for stationary engines for shaft power (like multi-functional platforms).
According to the United Nations, almost half of the world’s population lives on less than $2 a day. In the mean time, the developed and developing world’s energy needs have been expanding exponentially. The high cost and inaccessibility of fossil fuels, leaves approximately 2 billion people worldwide without reliable energy sources, without refrigeration, basic communication, heat, or even light.
Statistics show that two-thirds of the population in the developing world, where poverty is at its peak, derives their incomes from agriculture.
Put in this context, theoretically, Jatropha has enormous potential to change their situation for the better.
There are many who believe that the cycle of poverty can be broken by Jatropha cultivation, as this dedicated crop has a huge potential for replication world -wide, with the potential for improving the livelihood of many more of the world’s poorest.
At the community level, it is argued that farmers who produce dedicated energy crops can increase their incomes and grow their own supply of affordable and reliable energy for their own internal needs.
At the national level, cultivating biofuel crops will generate new industries, new technologies, new jobs and new markets.
At the same time, producing more biofuels will reduce energy expenditures and allow developing countries to put more of their resources into health, education and other services for their neediest citizens.
But this is all a very pretty picture that is still in the process of being realized.
So, can Jatropha really end poverty?
With dedicated poverty reduction programs organized by governments and NGOs and Social Entrepreneurship organizations like GEXSI, the easy cultivability of Jatropha and increasing demand for Biodiesel, it seems that Jatropha can indeed be a viable solution to improve the standard of living of the world’s poorest.
However, this still remains an issue of debate, with detractors pointing out exploitation of cheap labor for Jatropha cultivation. In addition to this, fears remain over the use of valuable land water resources to ensure optimum yields from the Jatropha tree; resources that can be better spent on growing food.
If one scans the investments into Jatropha today, it is still large-scale commercial cultivation focused, but there is an increasingly strong case being made for the sustainability of a responsible and well managed collective Jatropha cultivation project.
Discussion about the socio-economic impact on Jatropha will be on the agenda at JATROPHAWORLD HAMBURG 2008, a conference which brings together on a single platform, the best expertise to discuss and analyze the present and future dynamics of JATROPHA from a socio-entrepreneurial angle.
At JATROPHAWORLD HAMBURG 2008, you will be able to engage our panel of experts in active debate and discussion about Jatropha’s potential to alleviate poverty, and weigh both the positive and negative impacts of widespread Jatropha Cultivation, as well as define the best way to adopt a Jatropha project for poverty alleviation.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to be a part of this authoritative summit on Jatropha.
