Opportunities and Constraints of Promoting New Tree Crops—Lessons Learned from Jatropha

Abstract

It is not uncommon that new crops suddenly attract a lot and international attention from private and public actors based on their acclaimed potential to contribute to sustainable development. Such sharp increases in attention can lead to big investments and promotion campaigns to domesticate and commercialize these crops at industrial scale. However, in many cases the research of these plants is still in its infancy and investors generally lack sufficient insight into uncertainties and risks related to their investments, which consequently hold sustainability risks.

Initial Effects of Fertilization and Canopy Management on Flowering and Seed and Oil Yields of Jatropha curcas L. in Malawi

“…Many bioenergy investments use over-optimistic yield projections based on expectations and rough estimates rather than actual field findings [23]. Consequently, some J. curcas investment projects have failed [17,19,20]. Like any other crop, J. curcas requires proper management [23][24][25].…”

“…In 2008, GEXIS [16] reported 119,000 ha J. curcas plantations in sub-Saharan Africa with an expected rise to two million hectares in 2015, although this has not been realized. Many of the investments and policy decisions promoting the development of J. curcas as an oil crop have failed because they have been made without sufficient scientific knowledge [9,[17][18][19][20]. Currently, J. curcas production still has many challenges, such as low yield due to imbalance between male and female flowers (a too low female/male ratio leading to low seed production), controversy regarding competition with food production for land, insignificant economic viability as yields have often been below expectation, pest and disease damage, and associated environmental risks [14,17,[19][20][21].…”

Life Cycle Cost and Sensitivity Analysis of Reutealis trisperma as Non-Edible Feedstock for Future Biodiesel Production

“…Several examples of research efforts on crops for the production of biodiesel are calophyllum inophyllum [36], pongamia glabra (koroch seed) [37], jatropha curcas [38,39], eruca sativa. L [40], Hevea brasiliensis and Ricinus communis [41] pongamia pinnata (karanja) [42,43], sterculia foetida [44], azadirachta indica (neem) [45], madhuca indica (mahua) [46], soap nut [47,48], milkweed (Calotropis gigantean) [49], guizotia abyssinica [50], tung [51], pistacia chinensis [52], and algae [18].…”

Trees in the Agricultural Matrix: Reforestation Processes in a Tropical Dry Landscape in Chinandega, Nicaragua

“…While these lessons have been repeated with Jatropha carcus and Artemesia annua, they have remained unheeded as new species like Allanblackia, Argania spinosa, and Moringa oleifera continue to be proclaimed "miracle trees" (Achten et al 2014). The Eucalyptus market, albeit external/remote, and the native species cut, highlight local demand for timber.…”

“…The owner of the teak explained that the nearby communities could not afford this species, nor could he afford the bureaucratic process and bribes he would need to export, so teak is not only limited in providing ecosystem services, the economic benefits are also currently out of reach, necessitating further extension activities for these exotic species (Current and Scherr 1995). In addition, exotic species like Eucalyptus and neem often gain international attention, leading to big investments and promotional campaigns, but the enthusiasm often lacks long-term research and insight into possible risks of species introduction, including environmental and socio-economic impacts (Achten et al 2014).…”