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Earlier this century, jatropha was hailed as a “miracle” biofuel. An unassuming shrubby tree native to Central America, it was extremely promoted as a high-yielding, drought-tolerant biofuel feedstock that might grow on abject lands across Latin America, Africa and Asia.
A jatropha rush ensued, with more than 900,000 hectares (2.2 million acres) planted by 2008. But the bubble burst. Low yields resulted in plantation failures almost all over. The aftermath of the jatropha crash was polluted by allegations of land grabbing, mismanagement, and overblown carbon reduction claims.
Today, some scientists continue pursuing the evasive pledge of high-yielding jatropha. A return, they say, depends on splitting the yield problem and attending to the damaging land-use problems intertwined with its original failure.
The sole remaining large jatropha plantation is in Ghana. The plantation owner claims high-yield domesticated varieties have actually been achieved and a new boom is at hand. But even if this return fails, the world’s experience of jatropha holds important lessons for any promising up-and-coming biofuel.
At the beginning of the 21st century, Jatropha curcas, an unassuming shrub-like tree native to Central America, was planted across the world. The rush to jatropha was driven by its pledge as a sustainable source of biofuel that might be grown on deteriorated, unfertile lands so as not to displace food crops. But inflated claims of high yields fell flat.

Now, after years of research and development, the sole remaining large plantation focused on growing jatropha is in Ghana. And Singapore-based jOil, which owns that plantation, claims the jatropha comeback is on.

“All those business that failed, adopted a plug-and-play design of hunting for the wild ranges of jatropha. But to advertise it, you require to domesticate it. This belongs of the process that was missed [during the boom],” jOil CEO Vasanth Subramanian told Mongabay in an interview.

Having discovered from the errors of jatropha’s past failures, he says the oily plant might yet play an essential function as a liquid biofuel feedstock, lowering transportation carbon emissions at the global level. A brand-new boom could bring additional advantages, with jatropha likewise a potential source of fertilizers and even bioplastics.

But some scientists are doubtful, noting that jatropha has currently gone through one hype-and-fizzle cycle. They warn that if the plant is to reach complete potential, then it is necessary to learn from past errors. During the first boom, jatropha plantations were hindered not just by poor yields, however by land grabbing, logging, and social issues in nations where it was planted, including Ghana, where jOil operates.

Experts likewise recommend that jatropha’s tale offers lessons for researchers and entrepreneurs checking out appealing brand-new sources for liquid biofuels - which exist aplenty.

Miracle shrub, major bust

Jatropha’s early 21st-century appeal stemmed from its pledge as a “second-generation” biofuel, which are sourced from yards, trees and other plants not stemmed from edible crops such as maize, soy or oil palm. Among its multiple supposed virtues was a capability to flourish on degraded or “marginal” lands