Discussion Group: Agronomy

Jatropha Agronomy – Key issues Key issues: -Seed quality has to be improved constantly and access to seed breeding has to be provided for Jatropha growers -Issues around toxicity of Jatropha to be solved -Very little knowledge is available on what Jatropha actually needs – What are suitable agroeconomic regions in terms of rainfall, temperature etc. -Harvesting and post harvest technology (storage, extraction, application) -Agricultutral practices are there in the field but are not systematically documented – there is a lack of coordinative exchange/information

Jatropha Agronomy – Opportunities Opportunities: -Applications of Jatropha as a raw material for chemicals or as a pesticide -Additional income for rural areas and -Figthing land degradation and revorering land -Large market opportunities of biofuels -Introduce better agricultural practices in gerneral -Introduction of principles of conservation agriculture -Provide energy to rural areas -Carbon sequestration

Jatropha Agronomy – Priorities for research Priorities for research and further work -Technical papers / handbooks on agricultural practice -Training centers including training materials for farmers / operators -Research on intercropping options and practices -Capacity building for local communities for the whole Jatropha value chains -Development of PPP models -Set-up of national centers of excellence on Jatropha cultivation with a coordinating international center (doing publications etc.) -Alterantive models for the use of main and by-product as well as technology and business cases for extraction and transformation -Every country should have a body to promote biofuels/Jatropha