Jatropha has been hailed as the feedstock for sustainable biodiesel production over food crops likesoy or rape. If managed right, Jatropha projects offer the chance to realize ‘triple-bottom line’ investments with social, environmental and economic returns.

The upcoming 2nd JatrophaWorld Africa conference zooms into optimizing the efficiencies and economics of Jatropha, and spotlight the rapidly growing Jatropha industry in Africa.

According to an article in Biofuels Innovator Jatropha has been cultivated in Africa several hundred years ago for the production of soap and as oil for lamps. The same article reports that in the 1980s to 1990s, development organizations recognized that Jatropha cultivation could provide a means for local communities to develop themselves, and the first commercial-scale projects were established aboutfive years ago.

Today, significant investments in cultivating Jatropha as an energy crop are taking place throughout in Africa according to GEXSI’s Global Jatropha Market Study, but growth in Jatropha projects is not uniform across the continent.

•In Northern Africa, the extreme arid climatic conditions have resulted in very few Jatropha projects situated in the region. However, several pilot projects irrigated with sewage water are being tested in Egypt.

• In Western Africa, Jatropha has been traditionally cultivated in Mali& Cape Verde, where villages have depended on Jatropha oilfor village energy supply.  Large-scale Jatropha projects are being developed in Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon.

•In East Africa, Tanzania and Ethiopia have the largest Jatropha cultivation projects. There is also emerging interest in growing Jatropha in Kenya and Uganda, with many small scale projects already established.

• Southern Africa (including Madagascar) is where Africa’s biggest commercial Jatropha cultivation projects are currently under development. The largest acreage under cultivation currently exists in Madagascar, Zambia and Mozambique.

2nd JatrophaWorld Africa, part of the world’s largest Jatropha conference series, meets in Brussels on 14-15 October 2009 to discuss important issues and tackle challenges that the industry is currently facing, including land competition, food versus fuel, water usage and many more. It also aims to convey the important message of Sustainable Jatropha Cultivation, and increase global interest in investing in Africa’s Jatropha sector.

Those keen on being a part of 2nd JatrophaWorld Africa asdelegates can submit their registrations >>HERE<<. Those keen on media partnerships, exhibition space and / or sponsorship packages can submit enquiries and proposals >>HERE<< or contact Ms. Lee Lin at +65 6346 9146 or email her at leelin@cmtsp.com.sg.