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Jathropa Biofuels: The Next Green Breakthrough?

Though there are still some people out there who take an opposing view, most of us agree that carbon emissions are causing global warming. And that it's hugely important to do your part to reduce your carbon footprint. One of the most popular ways to do this is to drive greener. By driving alternative fuel vehicles, drivers can hugely reduce the effect their driving has on the environment. Because of this (and because of a desire for energy independence shared the world round) the biofuel industry is constantly expanding, and has been growing at an average rate of 42% a year.

But not everything about biofuels is environmentally, socially, and financially above-board. There are significant problems with the current biofuel industry; problems which Jathropa biofuel (made from the Jathropa tree) may just be able to solve.

Issues with Current Biofuels

Currently, most biofuels are made from food stocks like corn, wheat, sugar, soya, and palm oils. But using food stocks for fuel is something that is slowly being proven inefficient. Without the right guidelines and processes in place, fuel crops may, over time, push out food crops, leading to food shortages and even famine, especially in the world's poorer countries. Given that starvation and global hunger are still huge social issues today, giving crops over to feed vehicles instead of people is, according to many experts, simply asking for trouble.

Using food crops as fuel will, over time, have an effect on food costs, water scarcity and costs, and competition for space needed by forests and other important ecosystems.

Why Jathropa is so Exciting

Like the biofuels listed above, Jathropa is also a plant crop. But many aspects of this new biofuel set it apart, and make it a very exciting addition to the green fuel industry.

It's Sustainable. Jathropa is a renewable resource that's easy to grow and prevents soil degradation. And unlike most crops used to create biofuels and biodiesel, Jathropa trees live for years. Once planted, they can be harvested year after year as they continue to grow. This means a reduced workload for Jathropa farmers, who can focus on harvesting and producing fuels instead of planting new crops and using more resources in the process. Plus, as it's not a food source, Jathropa won't create competition for food stocks.

It's Socially Responsible. Jathropa trees can grow in almost any kind of climate, including the hot and arid climates of the world's poorer countries, including in low-quality or degraded soil. This may potentially create jobs and incomes for poor rural families the world over.

It Can Grow Anywhere. Most crops need a particular kind of climate in order to thrive. But Jathropa can grow almost anywhere, from wet areas to dry ones, from cool climates to hot ones. This opens up the biofuel industry to the world at large, giving more places a chance to achieve energy independence.

High Production. Though the seeds and growing techniques are inexpensive, Jathropa trees produce more oil (and therefore more material for biofuels) than almost any other biofuel crop. Plus, as it continues to grow, each tree produces more and more oil each year.

With oil becoming scarcer and scarcer and the planet warming up, coming up with alternative ways to fuel our way of life is hugely important. And while biofuels in general are a better option that traditional gasoline, some biofuels are better than others. While Jathropa is just beginning to make a blip in the biofuel industry, with the benefits it has to offer, it may be the world's leading fuel in few decades.

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