Jatropha Production in Koulikoro, Mali A Proposed Study of a Weed and its Agricultural, Economic, and Energy Benefits

Background  Travel to Mali Fall 2008 (ENTS Internship)  Work with Mali Biocarburant, a “pro-poor” Biofuel Development Business in Koulikoro, Mali (more about them in a moment)  Mali Biocarburant specializes in developing Jatropha; a native weed with exciting potential as an efficient biofuel. (I will explain why)  Work to compile a Socio- Economic Baseline Survey (I’ll explain what this entails)

Outline  What is Jatropha?  Who is Mali Biocarburant?  What will I be doing?  (A few more points about the logistics of it all)  Larger Implications and Research Goals

Why Jatropha, Why Mali? Native to Mali (local familiarity), originally used as a hedge crop Low inputs, ability to grow in marginal soils Environmental benefits: erosion prevention, deep root system, fixes nitrogen Intercropping potential Strong pest resistance Three years to establish for sustained biofuel production

Jatropha L. Curcas

Mali Biocarburant “Producing biofuel that not only supplements farmers’ income and contributes to poverty alleviation but that will also be used locally without taking a toll on the environment.” Create Malian Jobs Local focus Limit Fossil Fuel Consumption

Production Process Seeds Brought to Farmer Collective Biofuel Processing Plant (and my future office) Oilpress – many different technologies for this BIODIESEL!!!! (Hugo Verkuijl - Directeur Generale of Mali Biocarburant)

Socio-Economic Baseline Survey Purpose: To understand the current Socio- economic status of the farmers currently working with Mali Biocarburant Goal: To create a resource that can be used for future comparisons to understand the progress and development of Jatropha in Mali over time

Method for Socio-Economic Baseline Survey Create questionnaire Identify Sample Population Conduct Field Interviews – Based in Koulikoro Data Analysis and Implications Policy Speculation Farmers planting a Jatropha Seedbed in Koulikoro, April 2007

Elements for Consideration Income Survey – Material Holdings Land Survey – Good land v. marginal Production History – Land Use History Producer Expectations Best-fit models

Long Term Better Understand Potential for Growth of Jatropha as an source of energy, income, and poverty alleviation Ground-up Analysis of Producer Experience Creating Connections Carbon Assessment Future Business Development

Thank You!

Sources EMPOWERING RURAL COMMUNITIES BY PLANTING ENERGY -Roundtable on Bioenergy Enterprise in Developing Regions – UNEP, December NY Times September 9, 2007http:// Hugo Verkuijl – Directeur Generale, Mali Biocarburant SA