Note: This article was originally made on Sept 15, 2006
I went up to the model farm of Nestle in Tagum along the Agusan-Davao Highway in Mindanao (from Davao City drive up to Tagum then once you hit the NFA in Tagum it’s just a few more meters down the road)…. originally a coffee model farm, they decided to intercrop Jatropha Curcas with their coffee plants (which they sell at Php 5.00/cutting) The plant has now found useful life as a source of energy… before their uses were mostly medicinal, fencing, and for attracting fruit scarring beetles in commercial banana plantations (so that they won’t scratch the banana’s and lower their selling value.)
The clump here bears fruit every week… so they said… this is what you grind to extract the oil… even while still planted in their black bags they can grow up to 3 ft in height and start fruiting after 6 months…
Theoretically you can extract about 1 kg of oil from 3 kg of seeds… no data yet however on how much a hectare can produce… I would assume that a weekly harvesting cycle would be necessary in order to gather the fruit/seeds… it is suggested to prune the plant so that it will turn into a thick bush instead of gaining height thereby making it difficult to harvest.
According to them, they got their planting materials locally from the wild Jatropha Curcas growing around them. Now after about a year, they have about 50,000 plantings in inventory… their market is mostly for Manila since not much people from mindanao are buying from them (maybe it’s just a marketing issue)… packed in boxes and with the right amount of moisture, the cuttings can survive a week…
All these plantings however will mean nothing if we don’t have a place to process the seeds… I hope the plans of Petron to setup a tuba-tuba processing plant in Mindanao will come into fruition… this will be good in ridding us of our dependence on foreign oil…
Contact Info:
NESTLE EXPERIMENTAL & DEMONSTRATION FARM
Magdum, Tagum City, Philippines
Tel. No:
(+63)-(084) - 4001807
(+63)-(084) - 2172449 Fax
Update: I just found out from a friend, who went up to the Nestle Nursery to purchase seeds, that he was only able to buy a 100 seeds because the guy there told him that the main office pulled out a huge order from Manila. In Tagum, the going price for Jatropha Curcas seeds has shot up to Php 8/kg ($1= Php 50)
Category: Biodiesel, Jatropha
November 14th, 2006 at 11:24 pm
MY PROFILE IN BRIEF
I am Dr Ganapathy Arumugam from India was employed in a multinational company as Group Science Director responsible for the total technical and technology development in the field of Jatropha curcas and registered as an International Expert in the field of Biodiesel from Jatropha curcas. And I had been in charge for the Techno Commercial operations in 09 Countries on Non Edible Oil Seed Based BioDiesel productions.
We have developed high yielding and High oil content variety of Jatropha through selection method (my selections recorded 6 kg seed on average and a potentiality of 13 kg per tree per annum with oil recovery of 63% (Kernel basis) 45 % (seed basis). I have also standardized the Agronomical practices to bring down the FFA and Phospholipids levels. These are all my small achievement in this field and further my expertise in Jatropha curcas are
• Biotechnology/Plant tissue culture
• Agronomical practices
• Management practices
• Pest and Disease management using Integrated Pest and Disease Management
• Microbiology
• Genetics and Plant Breeding
• Inter cropping system
• Economics
• Value-added products
Later it is my interest to have a diversified activity in the field of Biodiesel and started working on Algal based biodiesel production. In this connection we focus on
1. best condition to grow Algae
2. species available
3. source of availability of culture
4. media for multiplication
5. grow them under extreme cold and hot conditions
6. cost of production
7. refining technology
We have established our Germplasm on Algae with 91% Hydrocarbon using open pond and Photo bioreactor system and established our Lab facility with an investment of GBP 250k and reached a point to transfer technology also.
Our recent work on Production of Biodiesel using Sewerage water has been standardized for our Australian client where we can totally clean the Municipal water first step with same water used to grow algae and on completion of Algae production the leftover water is being used in Paper Industry.
Our record is 120 Mt of Oil per Ha per annum and the biggest strength is One MT of Algal biomass will consume 1.6 mt of Carbon dioxide and release 1.2 mt of Oxygen.
Also all Flue gas will be converted into Biomass.
We are also aiming to produce Biolubricants out of Algae crude.
Please fell free to contact us for your further requirements.
I can send you the Economics and our corporate profile as PPT if you are further interested.
In India this year our target is to establish 150k Ha of Jatropha from the seeds produced from our seed orchard which first time happening in the world of this Industry.
We are the first company in this country focusing on seed production followed by commercial plantations since our vision and goals are long term.
His Excellency Dr APJ Abdul Kalam has endorsed all our projects and certified the best company in this country with directions to all the top level GoI officials to visit us.
Please advice how best we can work together based on our technical expertise in Agronomy.
We have business relation in Defense Research and Development Organization, Ministry of Non Conventional Energy Resources, Ministry of Agriculture all the State Governments in India.
In abroad we have our projects in South Africa, Kenya, Thailand, Indonesia, Israel, Australia, Philippines, and Srilanka.
Best Regards
Dr Ganapathy Arumugam
CEO & Group Science Director
Enhanced Biofuel Technologies Limited
Biofuel Research and Development Centre
GN Mills Post
Coimbatore 641 029
TamilNadu
South India.
00 91 94432 67360
00914222635640
00914222645660
00 91 94433 67360
00 91 93605 67360
November 14th, 2006 at 11:26 pm
We are looking for joint ventures
drgarumugam@ebtplc.com
www.ebtplc.com, lakshmiga76@yahoo.co.uk
December 11th, 2006 at 8:10 pm
is there funding allocation being download for jatropha curcas in the Philippines?
December 12th, 2006 at 6:14 pm
Based from the Biofuels Bill, this is what I’m reading:
d) Financial Assistance
Government financial institutions, such as the Development Bank of the Philippines, Land Bank of the Philippines, Quedancor and other government institutions providing financial services, shall in accordance with and to the extent allowed by the enabling provisions of their respective charters or applicable laws, accord high priority to extend financing to Filipino citizens or entities, at least sixty percent (60%) of the capital stock of which belongs to citizens of the Philippines that shall engage in activities involving production, storage, handling and transport of biofuel and biofuel feedstock, including the blending of biofuels with petroleum, as certified by the DOE.
February 5th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
Greetings! I am Glenn Matthew Uyengco, a key member of the Davao City Multi-Culture Development Cooperative. We have a 1000 hectare available land which we intend to plant with Jatropha Curcas, and 40 hectares of which are already fully planted. We already have an existing 1.5 million seedlings matured enough to be transferred to the main plantation. Furthermore, I have undergone a biodiesel processing workshop in Manila.
However, our main problem lies with the funding, we are in need of funding to fully start our operations. We are planning to set up biodiesel processing plants and stations to be located in key areas in Davao City (initially), and several thousands of hectares are available to us to be developed into Jatropha Curcas plantations should we have the capacity to expand. We have our own forester and propagation expert as member of our cooperative.
In light of the information mentioned above, we would like to seek your assistance in locating an interested investor which would be our partner in developing the Jatropha Curcas Biodiesel Industry in the region.
Thakn you so much and best wishes.
Glenn
February 5th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
Hi Glenn, have you tried contacting DBP for funding?
February 7th, 2007 at 1:30 am
Standardized protocol for tissue culture Jatropha and mass propagation of clonal propagating material.
(B) ALGAE
Optimized conditions for the growth of Algal varieties yielding oil
Explored and isolated 13 Genus and 6 Species based on oil yields
Maintaining 81 germplasm materials from different ecological conditions
Standardized growing medium for oil yielding strains
Growth pattern of the algae under various conditions were studied
Salinity tolerance of the algal strain yielding oil was optimized
Various harvesting techniques were standardized
Mass propagation of oil yielding strains were successfully carried out under laboratory and outdoor conditions
Oil yield from algal biomass was standardized to be in the range of 70-110mt/ha/yr
Identified and demonstrated highly efficient Strains for industrial effluent and sewage water treatment to grow algae using wastewater
Project focusing on reduction of Green-house gas emissions and thereby Clean Development Mechanism
Algal byproducts- anti-cancer drugs, neutraceuticals, food supplement
Standardized and demonstrated phycoremediation technology
(C) PROCESSING
(1) RENEWABLE EMULSIFIED DIESEL (RED)
RED is a type of renewable emulsified diesel, the constituents of which are diesel, vegetable oil, processed water, surfactants and other additives
RED is developed through Advanced Emulsified Fuel Technology ( AEFTx)
This technology does the various multi medium mixing process for mixing water and oil based liquids and solids. This enable unique fuels to be created and burnt that considerably increases the efficiency of burning process
This fuels increases the amount of energy gained per unit of the fuel whilst significantly reducing emission
Depending on the fuel burnt energy savings and emission reductions of between 5% to 45% may be obtained
The diesel used in emulsion was BS .EN590 standard diesel with a mix of 10.2% H20 to diesel, 50L of BS .EN590 were purchase for comparison and both fuels were kept under identical conditions
The particulate reduction was found to be more in EBT GeTx Technology when compared to other emulsified fuels ( which was tested in Washington DC, MIT and in Adelphi )
Summary of results
The following reductions were obtained
Particulates by 10.13%
Carbon Monoxide ( CO) by 12.5%
Hydrocarbons (HC) by 12.3%
Nitrogen oxides ( NOx)
The effect of the fuel on the power of the engines was a loss of power of 8%
Summary of Potential Benefits Using EBT GeTx Emulsion Fuel
improved atomization
improved carbon burnout lower S03 formation
reduced back-end fouling
reduced back-end corrosion
elimination of fireside additives
lower particulate
lower NOx lower 02
shorter flame length
reduced flame impingement
improved heat transfer
reduced soot blowing & acid mist
(2) GLYCEROL ETHERIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
Glycerol etherification technology deals with the conversion and transformation of glycerol as a value added fuel product. This product act as an oxygenate additive to gasoline and biofuels
It possesses a great potential in replacing chemically derived toxic oxygenates such as MTBE. The above technology has been jointly standardized and demonstrated along with our joint venture partners in U.S.A.
(3) RENEWABLE AVIATION TURBINE FUELS (ATF)
We are in a plan of developing biobased aviation fuels. Biodiesel can be used as aviation fuel to partially replace white kerosene, the fuel standard of biodiesel can be enhanced to meet the ATF standards using suitable fuel additives. Biodiesel can also be blended with ATF
(4) BIODIESEL
Existing transesterification process is under modification to suit the technology having higher FFA and phospholipids. But our goal is to use technologies other than transesterification process
Technology in our pipelines is in joint venture with U.S.A
a. Nanocatalysis
b. Micro and Membrane reactors
c. Enzymatic transterification
d. Homogeneous catalyst
(5) BIOLUBRICANTS
EBT has also started R & D on biolubricants and we found the following merits using biolubricants from SVO
a. increase in engine life
b. 30% quantity reductions
c. more benefits to consumers
Other applications of biolubricants are as follows
a. Transformer oil
b. Insulating oil
c. Metallurgical oil
d. 2T oil
e. Hydraulic oil
f. Fluid oil
Merits Of Our Improved Technology
- No pollution
- No separation of FFA
- Process is in liquid form
- 0.7% less in cost of production
Clean Development Mechanism (CDM):
Clean Development Mechanism is the provision of the Kyoto protocol that governs project level carbon credit transactions between developed and developing countries
EcoSecurities is one of the world’s leading companies in the business of
originating, implementing and commercializing carbon credit
EcoSecurities structures and guides greenhouse gas emission reduction projects through the Kyoto Protocol, acting as a principal between the projects and the buyers of carbon credits
Ecosecurities works with Enhanced Biofuels and Technologies Ltd., to create carbon credits from projects that reduce emissions of green house gases
Algae based biodiesel production reduces green house gas emissions by consuming 2 tonnes of carbon dioxide for every tonne of biomass produced thereby releasing 1.6 tonnes of oxygen into the atmosphere
Carbon Credits acquired on jatropha based biodiesel production is
2.2 tonnes of carbon credit / tonne of Biodiesel
1 tonne of carbon credit = $18 (EBT Standards)
Therefore $39.6 / mt of Biodiesel
+
Methane gas evolved during burning the seed cake of Jatropha
1.4 tonnes of Co2/tonne of burnt seed cake
1 tonne of carbon credit = $18 (EBT Standards)
Therefore $ 25.2 / mt of seed cake
The total carbon credit is therefore $ 64.8 based on biodiesel production from Jatropha
The carbon credit is US $35/ton Co2 (U.S.Standards)
Dr. Ganapathy Arumugam,
CEO & Group Science Director
Enhanced Biofuels and Technologies India P Ltd
Biofuel Research and Development Centre
5/10 C Alankar garde
GN Mills post
Coimbatore 641029
India
00914222645640,660,630
00919443267360
drgarumugam@ebtplc.com
lakshmiga76@yahoo.co.uk
www.ebtplc.com
February 7th, 2007 at 1:31 am
OUR PROFILES AND ACHIEVEMENTS
We, Enhanced Biofuels & Technologies Ltd., feel proud to introduce ourselves as one of the pioneers in the field of Biofuel production. The fine art of Natural Science combined with the Innovative Technology has brought a great success in the field of Research and Development. Our breakthrough in the field of Agronomy based Biodiesel production has marked our presence in the Biofuel Market ever since 2002.We have invested $3 million for the research on Biofuel production. We also focus on the extensive research on Biofuel production using algae. Our group of 18 Scientists and the Science Advisory Board has made everlasting achievements in the field of R & D.
ACIEVEMENTS:
(A) JATROPHA CURCAS
Explored 270 high yielding clones out of 15 million wild plants.
Identified an accession having potentiality of producing 60 fruits/bunch
Developed commercially high yielding clones of Jatropha curcas producing 5kg/tree based on oil yield of 35% and evaluated clones producing 12kg/tree is under multi-location trial with a target of 5mt/ha/yr
Developed pest resistant variety
Achieved 90% seed germination and 95% root initiation in CPM.
Identified location and species specific biofertilizers & biocontrol agents for enhanced Jatropha curcas cultivation
A revenue model with commercially proven technologies for Jatropha to generate profit of $1500/ha/yr was demonstrated.
Optimized Integrated Nutrient management, Integrated Pest Management and water requirements for Jatropha curcas
February 11th, 2007 at 2:08 am
My advise to those interested in starting a jatropha plantation is to make use of indigenous variety. A thorough study has yet to be conducted on the effect these imported varieties have on local crops. I hope the concerned agency tasked to do this will act fast.
March 1st, 2007 at 8:56 am
Hello Glenn,
Are you referring to your father-in-law’s plantation? I would suggest that you coordinate with Region 10’s DENR contacts. Information may be found in this post:
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2005/07/d1_parnters_wit.html
You should have an easier time soliciting funding once the political bickering over the biofuel bill has died down.
March 16th, 2007 at 2:30 pm
Jatropha grows well and yields well, in commercial sense, under rain fed conditions.Is this a myth or reality. Can any of you guys throw some light on this.
March 23rd, 2007 at 3:48 pm
my father has a 400 hectares idle land in butuan city, philippines. he is planning to plant it with jatropha. however, he has a problem with regards to its funding. i wud just like to ask if anyone is interested to finance the operation? the land is strategic and is irrigated.. is there any processing plant here in mindanao?
April 3rd, 2007 at 3:41 am
@iris,
Maybe you can leave your contact email so that people can email you. There are plans to setup in Mindanao from what I know… but so far, they are just plans… if its irrigated, what were you planting there before? rice?
May 3rd, 2007 at 11:59 am
Hi.Im a graduating agricultural engineering student in UP Los Baños and right now i am conducting a study on the thermal properties of jatropha seeds. I need the data on the moisture content of those seeds right after harvest. May I inquire from anybody here this requirement?…Thanks a lot…I remain optimistic and grateful for a favorable response on this regard…
June 6th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
hi, i’m bs biology student of up manila with a thesis proposal concerning jatropha. i would like to know where i could be able to buy seeds or from whom i may order them…
i really need to purchase them as soon as possible for me and my partner to start the experiment. hope to hear from someone soon.. (eadd: lizet_vertucio@yahoo.com) thank you and good day..
June 18th, 2007 at 5:53 pm
Hi!
Im interested to know if there are any upcoming training on jatropha especially dealing with its micropropagation and another one on the utilization of biofertilizers to enhance its growth and productivity? This can be in the Philippines or abroad. I am connected with Central Philippine University, Iloilo City.
Thanks.
Sincerely
ERNIE
June 19th, 2007 at 4:12 am
Hi Ernesto,
Maybe you can check out The Biofuel Center at the Philippine Coconut Authority Compound at the Quezon City Circle or the Meralco Foundation (631-2444) to inquire regarding biofuel seminars. Or you can also try the Dept of Energy since according to the Biofuel Bill they are mandated to promote biofuels.
Hope this helps
:D
October 30th, 2007 at 5:28 pm
Before entering into certain investments and venture study all the factors:
Consider this study from UP Los Banos
http://www.relocalize.net/jatropha_what_the_public_should_know
Check the risks and realities…
December 30th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
Dr Ganapathy Arumugam,
I am working with Eco Fuels Global, (www.ecofuelglobal.com)and we are just starting a Jatropha program throughout Rwanda in tandem with the OCIR Cafe - which is the government entity that oversees the coffee program. Meeting the energy of the fastest growing economy worldwide - is a major concern.
We will be intercropping the Jatropha with the high quality Bourbon coffee. However, we are meeting some resistance with farmers as they have some concern that the Jarropha might have an adverse effect on the quality of the coffee. We do have some data that relieves most of the concern, however any additional info that you might have would greatly help us allay these fears as Coffee is indeed the #1 export in Rwanda.
Do you have any new data pertaining to intercropping of Jatropha with coffee, and/or any useful info that might increase yield? Any new developments worthy of addressing?
Thanks in advance,
Scott Wagner (Rukundo Nshuti)
January 28th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Hi, we have about 200,000 4 mos old seedlings. Anybody interested in buying? We sell them at 5pesos each
January 28th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
hi, we have 200,000 4 mo old seedlings. anybody interested in buying them (5 pesos each)
January 28th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
hi selling 200,000 4 mos old seedlings. If interested reply
January 28th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
hi selling 200,000 4 mo old seedlings, and 15,000 6 mo old plants. Anybody interested?
January 30th, 2008 at 9:27 am
Greetings,
We are very interested in discussing with anyone who has specific information about intercropping jatropha with coffee. Our efforts are currently focused in East Africa. we would be happy to share our data with others.
Regards’
Dr philip giovannini
Eco Fuels Global
biofool@gmail.com
February 19th, 2008 at 10:44 am
hi poh…
gud day…
im bhern of University of Southeastern Phils…..im a 3rd yr BS Biology student…im interested on conducting a study about jatrophas other benefits such as making it as a soap…i would like to ask Ur opinion should i continue my study about jatropha as soap to kill dog lice in compared with the soap or shampoo of the neem tree or oil because as far as i have search info about jatropha it really does a lot of benefits….could it be a visible study…??since there’s no proven study of the effectivity and wat products in particular it uses…and my other reason why i choose to study it is because it less money…
i am hoping that U could help me to decide if i should pursue my study…
thanks poh…
March 16th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
It is great achevement and congratualations to you. I have keen interest in R & D activities of Biofuels, Biolubricants and Biogreses from Vegetable Oils. I would like to join in your Esteemed R & D Center Kindly consider my Profile for placement in your esteemed Biofuels R & d Center. Kindly cosider my Request for serving the nation by joing in your esteemed organizatiopn.
Looking forwrd for your favourable response in this regard.
Thanking You.
Regards,
P.V.Subba Rao.
April 13th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Im Dan Antenor, farmer organizer/entrepreneur in South Cotabato, Mindanao. Last year our group planted 300hectares of coffee with plans of planting 2000 more in the next 4 years courtesy of serenity Coffee Corporation. My farmer members have thousands more of idle lands. Anybody who couls provide us with seedlings? We provide the land and labor in planting it. You provide the technology and marketing. I know jatropha will give our members potential regular income. While we are discussing let us plant. We believe that @You will reap something if you have planted anything. Email me at: nycasoap@yahoo.com or oklakesebu@yahoo.com.
September 29th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
We need to know whether Jatropha crop is commercially viable.
Due to such low productivity with a lot of input in of labor intensive in cultivation and weed + pesticide control input.
What will be the optimum price of CJO(Crude jatropha Oil) extracted form the jatropha seeds.
December 18th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
I have a proposal for growing Jatropha plantation in large tracks of land in India. The way I want to do this is to form a corporate entity and partner with farmers and use their lands, use them as labor. By doing this we shall pay them rent for use lands and wages for their services. We will manage the plantation by engaging best of talents and run as a corporate venture. When profits will be made the investor and the farmers will be benefited. In the meanwhile the farmers are already remunerated by payment of rent for their land’s use and wages for their labor to grow plantation. I see this as a win-win situation.
We have farmers ready, land ready in one large track and a NGO who has aggregated the farmers. All we need is funding for the project in five tranches in five years. We have every thing ready and with finance we can initiate the process of forming a company and commence operations. We also have additional 15000 acres of lands for expansion of the project.
January 3rd, 2009 at 1:53 am
So far there is not any realistic claim on productivity yield in Jatropha plantation with testiminial back up support. All general agronomists are over claiming the potential/expecting yeild without having any back up support (provable record). It is really risky to promote the poor farmers to jump into this agro energy crop without a realistic proving record for the productivity and the off take market . Apparently that Jatropha plantation will not be commercial viable assuming the current mineral crude oil price and teh uncertainties of the the productivity yield. The conversion yield of Jatropha seeds to Crude Jatropha oil will be more than 4 kgs to 1 liter. It is easyly to visualize that the uncertain productivity yield of the Jatropha seeds and the current mineral oil prices . There is no more chance to develop this energy crop as the future alternative.
January 3rd, 2009 at 10:30 am
I find many writings in these columns that Jatropha has not been proved as a commercially viable plantation. In India, the railways have been using 5% Jatropha oil admixed with diesel and are successfully running five Fast moving Trains for the past five years. It is the availability of this oil that inhibits larger use. In addition they have four Tata Sumo automobiles running of the same basis. Tata Chemicals have picked up equity in JOil(Pte) Singapore for growing tissue culture for Jatropha. These could have not been possible without any basis.
Can any one comment?
January 3rd, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Same sentiments as Air New Zealand when they successfully completed their first commercial flight of a 747-400 with one engine running on 50% jatropha biofuel. That the main hindrance of adoption in all their flights is the supply of Jatropha.
http://www.alternat1ve.com/biofuel/2008/12/30/jatropha-curcas-powered-commercial-flight-a-success/
As for the tissue culture, that’s a good way to go. Similar to how banana multinationals propagate their stock, through tissue culture. One benefit of tissue culture is that you can “clone” only the superior and high producing strains of jatropha.
People should understand that the use of jatropha is still in its infancy so we have a lot of room for improvement.
January 10th, 2009 at 7:38 am
There are so many dreamer in jatropha ,
All information have been misleading the people.
Jatropha is the wild specie which are the same as any other commercial crops.
The good thing is that they can survive in the poor soil with low rain fed area.
It is true that it can survive only vegetational (Definitely not productively with high productivity yield.
To have the reasonable yield (commercial viable) It must be grown in the normal fertile land as any other commercial crop with reasonable fertile soil + substantial rain fed and/or irrigation .
If we do expect high yield (mean more Crude jatropha oil0
It is very simple to look at the molecular weight of Jatropha oil which are consist of C/H/O.
Where the jatropha trees could get the H and O to generate the oil.It can be only form water .
It is impossible to get any high productivity yield from jatropha without the reasonable water supply either form rein fed or irrigation.
Do not fool around to misguide the people,
It will create more problem to destroy this eenrgy crop if it would b msi guide like what all the people are claiming with out any scientific logix back up.
January 15th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
it is definite that the Jatropha oil can be able to convert into the future biofuel .
The critical issue is the cost to have the Jatropha biofule would be commercial viable or not.
So far the productivity is very low and the cultivation cost to get this energy crop to process into biofuel will not be cheap.
it is matter of the relative price of the mineral fuel how high it will be in the future .
For the current situation or the medium term.There is no way the Jatropha oil would be competitive against the mineral fuel.
The most important point is the development to have high productivity yield(realisticly)in this energy crop and the going forwrad development of the biofuel form this crop must not be shelved or terminated due to the not commercial viable for the time being.
The show must go on as Jatropha is one of the hope to contribute the supply of future energy demand.