Should the American farmers thinking about growing (Jatropha Curcas) Jatropha Fruit for Biofuel.?

Question

Biodiesel company's are buying hundred of thousand of hectares of land and thinking about growing Jatropha fruit and using as Biofule or Biodiesel.

http://www.ecoworld.com/home/articles2.cfm?tid=356

Answer 1

There is a plant that is the most efficient at converting sunlight into energy. It can be grown in any temperate climate. It's seeds are prolific and contain 75-80%of high quality oil. It can reach heights of over 15ft in just a couple of months with a stalk as thick as your arm. It needs little water and very little fertilizer or pesticides. It grows well in very marginal soil. In some parts of the world 3 crops a year are possible. We need this plant right now ! It's HEMP ! ...           But wait ... it resembles a similar plant that is considered a 'drug' !  We need to change the laws so we don't have to burn FOOD for fuel !  We don't have time to mess around with un-proven species of plants when history shows HEMP was always used to better mankind. Our country was founded using HEMP ! Look at 'OLD IRONSIDES' symbol of pride of AMERICA !  OAK...IRON...and HEMP !

Answer 2

I think that the biofuel farming craze will destroy the country. it will cause many new forms to develop on what were formerly ecosystems, habitats and trees and overburden current farms that will focus on producing biofuels rather than food for the nation. overall biofuels are not much better for the environment than gasoline counterparts. by the time they are grown and refined they produce pollution just like gas. also it burns less efficiently and causes a decrease in MPG in vehicles. the fact that companies are buying hundreds of thousands of acres of land and clear cutting for development of farms and biofuels is horrible and by doing all of that your not helping the environment and it is not a clean fuel.

Answer 3

Moonshiners used to run their vehicles off of corn whiskey.Any plant that can be turned to alcohol whether its grass, corn,wheat ,barley can be used for fuel.The ehaust actually helps replentish the ozone layer.

Answer 4

They should do all they can.

Currently the oil from Jatropha curcas seeds can be used for making biodiesel fuel in India, and is being promoted as an easily grown biofuel crop in hundreds of projects throughout India and the third world. The rail line between Mumbai and Delhi is planted with Jatropha and the train itself runs on 15-20% biodiesel.

The plant can grow in wastelands, and it yields more than four times as much fuel per hectare as soybean, and more than ten times that of corn. A hectare of jatropha produces 1,892 liters of fuel (about 6.5 barrels per acre). Also Jatropha is a one-stage conversion to biodiesel

Jatropha curcas, also called physic nut, is used to produce the non-edible Jatropha oil, for making candles and soap, and as a feedstock for the production of biodiesel. The cakes remaining after the oil is pressed can be used as feed in digesters and gasifiers to produce biogas for cooking and in engines, or the cakes can be used for fertilizing, and sometimes even as animal fodder; alternatively, the entire seed (with oil) can be used in digesters to produce biogas. Large plantings and nurseries of this tree have been undertaken in India by numerous research institutions, and by women's Self Help Groups, who use a system of microcredit to ease poverty among the nation's semi-literate population of women. Extracts from this species have also been shown to have anti-tumor activity. The seeds can be used as a remedy for constipation, wounds can be dressed with the sap, and the leaves can be boiled to obtain a malaria and fever remedy.