A Three-Dimensional Sustainability Evaluation of Jatropha Plantations in Yucatan, Mexico

Abstract

This paper presents a unique sustainability analysis of one of the first attempts to establish a biodiesel industry in Mexico. From 2008, several companies established medium to large-sized Jatropha curcas plantations in Yucatan, hiring local peasants to carry out the agricultural work. After five years, the plantations were abandoned due to poor seed yields and a lack of key knowledge for large-scale cultivation. Based on a multidisciplinary approach, we performed a three-dimensional sustainability evaluation of the potential biodiesel production chain, which included household interviews, a socioeconomic survey, and a life-cycle assessment (LCA). We identified both negative and positive effects in the three dimensions analyzed. Socially and culturally, the local peasant families understood sustainability as their ability to preserve their traditional lifestyle, and associated environmental services with their sense of identity. They therefore considered the jatropha plantations to be positive for sustainability, since they brought income, even though some perceived damage to the natural resources of the surrounding areas. Economically, peasants' annual household income increased by approximately $1080 USD due to the increased salaries paid by the jatropha companies. The LCA predicted large savings of greenhouse gas emissions (>50% compared to fossil diesel), but also potential negative impacts in some categories (human/ecological toxicity and eutrophication potentials) associated with the use of mineral fertilizers, insecticides, and pesticides applied during the cultivation stage. Biodiesel production would be potentially energetically self-sufficient, in addition to producing a 40% energy surplus. Finally, even though the sustainability indicators suggested a positive overall assessment, the reality was that the jatropha projects failed because they were predicated on unrealistically optimistic projections and poor agronomic knowledge of the plant.

Environmental Impact Associated with the Supply Chain and Production of Biodiesel from Jatropha curcas L. through Life Cycle Analysis

“…Although there are varieties of Jatropha that are considered toxic, due to the presence of alkaloids known as phorbol esters inside the seeds, there are varieties of this plant in Mexico that are non-toxic; the inhabitants of central and southeastern regions even consume their grains [9], and the Jatropha plantations are seen as positive for sustainability, because inhabitants that cultivate these plants are improving their income [15].…”

Sustainability Evaluation of Non-Toxic Jatropha curcas in Rural Marginal Soil for Obtaining Biodiesel Using Life-Cycle Assessment

“…The social dimension of the use of Jatropha curcas has only been explored during its cultivation stage, which was found to be associated with job creation [13]. In this same vein, workers' annual salaries and the perception of Jatropha curcas plantations by the persons residing in the production area have also been studied [11].…”

“…More precisely, this scenario includes the use of the biomass composed of the pericarp and the tegument for use as a solid biofuel for domestic use-i.e., as a substitute for firewood in rural areas, given the similarity in calorific value between the two substances. In effect, the calorific value of the pericarp has been reported as falling between 10 and 17.2 MJ kg −1 , while that of the tegument has been reported to fall between 16.5 and 20 MJ kg −1 [8,11,50,51]. Moreover, the pericarp and the tegument has been shown to have a humidity of 14.1% [36].…”

The Sustainable Cultivation of Mexican Nontoxic Jatropha Curcas to Produce Biodiesel and Food in Marginal Rural Lands

“…However, successful production of Jatropha curcas crops has been limited due to low seed production, making commercial plantations unfeasible [9][10][11]. This is despite that most of the production systems show a positive balance of emissions and energy [12,13].…”