Why doesn't the "West world" support growing of jatropha curcas to using corn and soya bean to make biofuels.?

Question

Jatropha curcas is many times more yielding than those food crops and land can be availed to West biodiesel firms to farm in Africa imagine the jobs and vast unused lands that could be made useful....Places like Somali and other conflict areas could end up joining the "Green wagon" any way thats how i dream..I also believe the rising food prices are partly due to using food crops for fuel....

Answer 1

Interesting question. I suspect the answer is a complicated one. For one, biofuels have been largely over-hyped, and haven't fully delivered on their promise. For another, one has to question the wisdom of growing an exotic species (Jatropha originates in Central America) on vast tracts of "unused lands" in Africa -- unused (by humans) need not equal "wasted". Perhaps the "West" should butt out of the affairs of African countries, especially when they'd clearly be doing it for their own benefit much more than that of the local residents. Finally, this particular species is poisonous (coming from the spurge family) -- again, I question the wisdom of vast crops of such a species... surely, native biodiversity has to count for something, not just our unquenchable thirst for fuel?

Lots to think about, that's for sure...

Answer 2

One answer is very simple.  We already know how to effectively and efficiently grow corn and soybeans.  Jatropha curcas is a relatively unknown crop for this area.  There is limited knowledge as to establishment, pest control, seeding rate, fertility requirements or even what soils are most optimum for production of said crop.  That knowledge would take at least 5-10 years of fairly intense research to develop.  In that time frame, both corn and soybean researchers would have improved their crops and introduce adaptations to overcome many of the limits you mentioned.