Jatropha: wonder crop? - Experience from Swaziland
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Friends of the Earth May 2009
Jatropha: wonder crop?
Experience from Swaziland
1 Jatropha: wonder crop? Experience from Swaziland
t
Contents
Executive Summary 3
Summary of contested claims 4
Recommendations 5
Introduction 6
D1 OILS 7
D1 Oils in Swaziland 7
Experience FROM SWAZILAND 8
Grows well on marginal land? 9
High yields on poor soil? 10
Water Use – biofuels grown in drought conditions? 11
Noxious and Invasive - Is Jatropha safe? 11
Resistant to Disease? 12
Environmental risk? 12
Development opportunities for poor communities? 13
A fair deal for farmers? 14
Energy sovereignty for Swaziland? 14
Conclusions 15
References 16
Written by Helen Burley and Hannah Griffiths for Friends of the Earth
Editorial team: Adam Bradbury, Anthony Loizou
Graphic Design: Mario Stifano
2 Jatropha: wonder crop? Experience from Swaziland
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The search for alternatives to fossil Local non-go vernment
fuel has seen a rush towards organisations (NGOs) have raised
biofuels. This is contributing to rising concerns about the social and
food prices and increasing concern environmental impacts of jatropha
about our ability to grow enough food and studies have questioned some
and fuel. Despite social and of the claims made about jatropha’s
environmental concerns and benefits. This report highlights
unproven climate benefits of biofuels, those concerns for media and policy
the EU has set a target of 10 per cent makers and questions some of the
road of transport fuel to come from claims being made by D1 Oils and
biofuels by 2020. others for biofuel from jatropha.
Against this backdrop, jatropha This report looks at D1 Oils’
(Jatropha curcas) has been promoted activities in Swaziland, one of the
by UK biofuel company D1 Oils as a countries where the company is
wonder crop because of the plant’s leading the development of jatropha
ability to grow on marginal and plantations. The report is based on
semi-arid land, saying “it will not first-hand evidence from farmers
compete with food crops for good involved with D1 Oils and desk
agricultural land”.1 research on the impacts of jatropha.
By revealing major problems with
jatropha production as a biofuel crop,
this report poses questions for policy
makers who are relying on the plant
as a part of a future sustainable
biofuel mix.
Jatropha seeds contain a non-edible oil that can be used to make biodiesel
Dreamstime
3 Jatropha: wonder crop? Experience from Swaziland
SUMMARY OF CONTESTED CLAIMS
Grows well on marginal land? Noxious and invasive – is jatropha Energy sovereignty for Swaziland? D1
A key D1 Oils claim about the benefit safe? Although jatropha has been Oils has said that by planting jatropha,
of jatropha above other biofuel crops planted for many years in Swaziland Swaziland could be producing its own
is that it grows well on “marginal” or for use as hedges and soap, it is biodiesel. However, under current
“waste” land and so does not compete classified as an invasive species and legislation, any biodiesel produced
with food production. Swazi NGOs, a noxious weed in other countries for cannot be distributed in Swaziland
however, have documented cases of containing carcinogenic substances and will be exported.
farmers turning good quality land over and presenting a significant human This report concludes that
to jatropha cultivation under contract and animal health risk.3 jatropha is not likely to be a silver
by D1 Oils, instead of that land being bullet that will help the UK and EU
used to grow food crops for people who Resistant to disease? Swazi NGOs meet their biofuel targets sustainably
lack food security. Written studies back have documented cases of farmers or solve the world’s energy needs.
up these concerns. For example, the who have reported problems with pests The oil yield from jatropha when it is
Gallagher Review, a comprehensive even though farmers say D1 Oils told grown on marginal or waste land with
report by the Renewable Fuels Agency2 them they wouldn’t need pesticides. Be- no water, fertiliser or pesticide input
analysing the indirect effects of biofuels cause jatropha has never been used as is at best uncertain. The high yields
production, finds that without regulation a commercial crop before, there is no needed to make jatropha commer-
there is nothing to prevent crops like local knowledge about how to control cially viable as a biofuel crop are far
jatropha from being grown on pests and farmers have complained more likely to be obtained when it is
high-quality arable land. that D1 Oils has refused to help them. planted on fertile irrigated land. This
could mean that widespread jatropha
High yields on poor soil? Linked to the Environmental risk? In April 2008 the plantations for biodiesel compete with
marginal land issue, a second sup- government of Swaziland suspended food production for fertile
posed key benefit of jatropha is that it all further planting as no environmental agricultural land.
yields a high oils content even on poor risk assessment had been undertaken While jatropha is not a food crop,
quality soil. However, studies show over jatropha planting. the use of the plant for biofuels still
considerable variation in the potential raises issues about competition with
oil yield for jatropha, with much higher Development opportunities for poor land use and food production. The
yield indicated when it is grown on communities? More than 80 per cent of experience from Swaziland, backed
better-quality soil. Swazi NGOs have the Swazi population depend on sub- up by various scientific studies,
documented farmers complaining sistence farming and many have suf- implies that policy makers in the EU
that the jatropha isn’t growing well in fered because of the severe drought in and UK need to treat jatropha with
drought conditions. Other studies back recent years. D1 Oils has said that rural the same degree of rigour as other
up these concerns. For example, the communities will significantly benefit biofuel crops.
Overseas Development Institute (ODI) through jatropha planting. Evidence of
suggests that jatropha is unlikely to de- farmers enriched by jatropha cultivation
liver the promised yields if grown only is hard to find, however. Studies have
on marginal land. found that jatropha is only likely to be
viable as a small-scale crop and the
Low water use – biofuels grown in ODI has said that it looks unlikely to be
drought conditions? It is claimed by a mainstay of people’s livelihoods. The
the biofuels industry that it possible to potential of jatropha for poor communi-
grow jatropha in the desert and D1 Oils ties is also linked to whether claims
is currently carrying out research in about yields on marginal land are rea-
Saudi Arabia. In Swaziland, however, lised, yet, as noted above, these claims
some farmers are complaining that are contested.
jatropha needs to be watered once or
even three times a week and that water A fair deal for farmers? Swazi NGOs
collection for jatropha crop is competing have raised concerns over the contracts
with collection for domestic use such as issued to farmers by D1 Oils. These
cooking and sanitation. No full studies include that farmers could not read
have been carried out on the overall or understand the contracts, that they
impact of on water levels of intensive were not left copies of the contract and
jatropha cultivation, but evidence sug- that the contracts cannot be terminated
gests that jatropha will not for several years.
thrive unless irrigated.
4 Jatropha: wonder crop? Experience from Swaziland
RECOMMENDATIONS
• The European Commission must If UK speed limits were lowered there is an appropriate regulatory
include a thorough analysis of we could reduce emissions by framework in place to ensure that
jatropha in its 2010 report on as much as 5.4 million tonnes biofuels produced from jatropha
indirect land use change due to of carbon dioxide a year as well are not competing with food
biofuel production; as improving our energy security production.
and saving lives.6 If European
• The UK Government to carry out politicians made manufacturers • In line with the principles of
an urgent review into the current double the average fuel efficiency corporate responsibility, and in
impacts of biofuels in developing of new cars it could save 95 order for the directors of D1 Oils
countries for crops such as jatropha. million tonnes of carbon dioxide a plc to meet their obligations under
year across the EU.7 section 172 of the Companies
• The EU and UK should put Act 2006, D1 Oils should cease
biofuel targets on hold until it • The UK Government and the EU all jatropha biofuel production
can be proven that they can should heed the warnings of the and conduct a comprehensive
be met sustainably. Jatropha Gallagher Review and ensure that review of the direct and indirect
cannot currently be considered a environmental and social impacts
sustainable biofuel crop because of that production.
its supposed benefits are unproven.
• Instead, emissions from road
transport should be reduced
through a combination of measures
proven to be effective. The
Government-commissioned study
“Looking over the horizon” has
demonstrated that emissions
from transport could be reduced
by 60 per cent by 2030 through
a combination of transport policy
measures that are proven to
deliver effective greenhouse
gas reductions.4 For example,
measures to boost walking and
cycling could save 7.3 million
tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.5
5 Jatropha: wonder crop? Experience from Swaziland 5
INTRODUCTION
The search for alternatives to fossil
fuel has seen a major rush towards SWAZILAND
biofuels, contributing to rising food N
Political Map
prices and growing concern about
our ability to grow enough food and
fuel. Against this backdrop, jatropha
has been promoted by D1 Oils as a Piggs Peak
South Africa
“wonder crop” because of its ability to
grow on marginal and semi-arid land. Hnohho
Jatropha originates in South
America but has been introduced
Mbabane Mozambique
widely to Asia and Africa, where it is
traditionally used for hedges and oil Siteki
from the seeds are used for soap. Manzini
Jatropha, the variety being promoted
for biofuel, is a bushy shrub that Lubombo
produces seeds which contain a non- Manzini
edible vegetable oil that can be
used for biodiesel.8
UK-based company D1 Oils was
among the first to market jatropha’s
Hlatikulu
supposed advantages. It has
developed partnerships in South Shiselweni
East Asia and Africa to encourage
farmers to grow jatropha, and is
widely seen as a world leader in the
jatropha trade.
Jatropha is particularly suited to
National Capital
tropical conditions and a number of 0 50 100 Kilometers
Province Capital
countries are embracing the so-
called miracle crop. India has said it
intends to develop 11 million hectares
of jatropha and China claims to have
2 million hectares and plans 11 million AFRICA
more. In Africa, jatropha plantations
arespreading across Tanzania and
Zambia, and, despite a current
government suspension of planting
of jatropha, Swaziland is poised to
follow suit.
e
Zimbabwe
iqu
One of the key drivers behind this
amb
Namibia
enthusiasm is demand for biofuels
Moz
Botswana
from Europe and the United States,
promoted as a measure to tackle
climate change. Despite social
and environmental concerns and
unproven climate benefits of biofuels,
Swaziland
the EU has set a target of 10 per
South Africa
cent road of transport fuel to come
from biofuels by 2020. Producers South
worldwide are gearing up to supply Africa
Mario Stifano Graphics/Friends of the Earth
this demand. The rising price of
petroleum and a desire for energy Lesotho
security are also spurring countries to
look at the potential for domestic use.
6 Jatropha: wonder crop? Experience from Swaziland
D1 OILS
D1 OILS IN SWAZILAND
A D1 Oils Jatropha plantation
D1 Oils Africa Ltd is a subsidiary
of D1 Oils that started operating in
Swaziland in 2005. D1 Oils Africa
Limited signed a Memorandum
of Understanding with the Swazi
Government in September 2006 to
plant 20,000 hectares of jatropha in
the country.17
Local NGOs Yonge Nawe (Friends
Yonge Nawe
of the Earth Swaziland) and Africa
Co-operative Action Trust (ACAT)
Swaziland have raised questions
about the environmental impacts
D1 Oils plc describes itself as a In February 2009 D1 Oils of jatropha, the impact on food
“biofuels technology company”.9 announced that through its joint supply and also about D1 Oils
It has expanded rapidly, attracting venture with BP it had planted more approach to farmers.
worldwide media coverage and than 257,000 hectares of jatropha, or
massive investment for jatropha, around a quarter of the current
which the company has branded as world supply.13
a “wonder crop”.10 Most of these plantations are not
D1 Oils believes that Jatropha will owned by D1 Oils, but represent the
“potentially contribute strongly to the area planted with jatropha by
EU meeting its biofuel targets”.11 independent farmers. The farmers
D1 Oils has also expounded the have signed agreements where D1
jatropha message in developing Oils will buy the jatropha, and in some
countries, saying the crop would cases provide farmers assistance
deliver good oil yields on marginal with seeds and seedlings.14
and arid land unsuitable for D1-BP Fuel Crops Limited, D1
agriculture, and could also be used Oils’ joint venture with BP, took over
as biomass to generate electricity12. responsibility for all D1 Oil’s existing
In December 2004 the company planting agreements15 and now
had up to 6 million hectares which owns D1 Oils plc’s plantations, with
it could access for jatropha biofuel managed plantations in Zambia,
production - an area twice the size Swaziland and Indonesia.
of Belgium. D1 Oils’ rapid global
expansion has seen it enter into a
number of partnership arrangements
including with companies in Brazil,
China, India, Indonesia, Saudi
Arabia, South Africa, Swaziland
and Zambia.
7 Jatropha: wonder crop? Experience from Swaziland
EXPERIENCE FROM SWAZILAND
“Because they are environmentally D1 Oils and other proponents of This section investigates the claims
elastic and bring unproductive land jatropha are marketing the crop as made by D1 Oils about jatropha
into cultivation, alternative biofuel a sustainable biofuel crop, without biofuels in light of the experience
feedstocks such as jatropha have the widely publicised environmental of Swaziland.
the potential to meet demand for and social impacts of other biofuel
biofuels without putting at risk food crops such as palm oil. Jatropha’s
supplies or important carbon-rich supposed key benefits are that it
or biodiverse environments.” can grow on so-called marginal or
wasteland in water scarce conditions
D1 Oils, Annual report and accounts 2007 with little or no fertiliser or pesticide
impact. D1 Oils presents jatropha
as a key development opportunity
enabling rural farmers to lift
themselves out of poverty, while
at the same time meeting a
demand from developed countries
for greener fuel which helps to
combat climate change.
Jatropha seeds
Dreamstime
8 Jatropha: wonder crop? Experience from Swaziland
GROWS WELL ON D1 Oils argues that because So now I want to start growing
MARGINAL LAND? jatropha grows on marginal land it drought-tolerant food crops as the
does not take land away from food Minister for Agriculture has urged.
“Developing countries have millions production. In Swaziland, however, But I have heard that the contract
of hectares of land that is currently some of the land being used for I signed with D1 doesn’t allow me
classified as marginal, waste or jatropha was until recently used for to stop growing jatropha for them. I
degraded. This includes land that growing food. don’t know what to do.”
was farmed in the past, but has
fallen out of production and is no “I have three fields. I used to grow Small Farmer, Swaziland22
longer suitable for growing arable cotton on the one which has
crops. Much of this land is suitable irrigation and food crops on the other The Gallagher Review warns that
for growing energy crops such two. Then D1 Oils came and told us biofuel crops which can grow on
as jatropha.” D1 Oils website18 we could make lots of money from marginal land, like jatropha, must be
growing jatropha. So I decided to subject to regulation to ensure that
In fact, studies challenge the turn all my fields over to jatropha. they are not in fact grown on high
viability of growing jatropha on But times are hard. Food prices are quality arable land.23
waste lands. Research carried too high. My family are angry with D1 Oils also promotes the use of
out by the Overseas Development me for planting jatropha and have biomass from jatropha to generate
Institute (ODI) as part of the UK told me I must use the fields to grow electricity. According to Plant
Government’s Gallagher Review food crops again so that we won’t go Research International, this would
found that the “promotional” hungry. I want to pull out the jatropha remove a “huge amount of nutrients”
claims made about jatropha were but do not know what my contract from the soil, reducing the
contradictory.19 While the ODI found says.” soils fertility.24
jatropha could grow on marginal Solomon Gamedze from
land, it also found that jatropha Sam Dube, subsistence farmer, Swaziland’s Ministry of Agriculture
would only produce high yields if Manzini Region21 told a meeting:
grown in good soil in areas with
good irrigation. Much of the so-called “waste land” “As much as the Ministry welcomes
The question of land use for being ear-marked for jatropha the issue of biofuels if they can
jatropha is crucial. Biofuel crops that production in fact provides valuable relieve the country of the ever
displace food crops put a severe grazing land and subsistence farm escalating costs of fossil fuels,
strain on food supplies, leading to land for some of the we should remember that only 10
rising prices and food insecurity. poorest communities. percent of the land is arable, and
The ODI study notes, however, that we should be seen to be asking
if jatropha becomes more profitable, “I planted jatropha on two of my how much of that land can be
it will become more attractive fields. The jatropha isn’t growing well sacrificed to Jatropha.25”
for farmers as a crop, potentially and I didn’t know that I would have
displacing food supplies.20 to wait three years before I’d start
to be able to harvest the seeds and
make money.
A D1 Oils Jatropha plantation
Yonge Nawe
9 Jatropha: wonder crop? Experience from Swaziland
HIGH YIELDS ON POOR SOIL? Desertification: former eastern low level cropland
“Under optimum conditions
jatropha seeds can yield up to 40%
oil content.26”
“The trees…can grow and
survive with minimum inputs
in marginal land…”
James Hall/IRIN
D1 Oils website27
Among the key benefits of jatropha, large scale jatropha cultivation. of plants on poor rain-fed soil can
according to D1 Oils, is the good Little is known about the different be expected to produce 0.67 tonnes
yield on poor soil. But studies have varieties and their comparative yields, of seeds (equivalent to 287 litres of
predicted far lower yields, especially making it “impossible” to predict oil per hectare), while on normal or
on poor quality soil, and scientists future production on marginal land.29 fertile irrigated soil, a hectare will
and farmers have questioned whether The study reported considerable produce 2.5 tonnes (equivalent to
high yields can be delivered. variability in yields according to the 1,070 litres of oil per hectare31).
In 2007 D1 Oils claimed that once soil type, water level and level of care His studies also show that plants
the jatropha plant reaches maturity, the plant received but said there was benefit from inputs, including 5kg of
jatropha has the potential to yield no evidence available to support organic manure for every plant.
between 170 and 270 per cent more claims of high oil yields. These findings are consistent
than rapeseed per hectare, and Figure 1 summarises the results with the conclusions of ODI’s study
between 425 and 675 per cent more of some different studies on the oil mentioned above, which suggests
than soya per hectare. D1 Oils has yields of jatropha compared with the that jatropha has limited potential as
also claimed: “In the longer term we claims made by D1 Oils. The Indian a fuel crop.32
believe yields for jatropha have the Government’s Planning Commission Jatropha is unlikely to deliver the
potential to approach those of palm28” has promoted jatropha for biofuels, promised yields if grown only on
, with palm yielding at least twice that predicting yields of 1,300 litres / marginal land, raising fundamental
of rapeseed and soya. hectare. Yet Indian scientist and questions over the viability of
But other scientific studies have jatropha expert Pushpito Ghosh says jatropha as a farm crop and
found lower yields than those claimed a yield of half that amount undermining D1 Oils’ claims that
by D1 Oils. is more likely.30 jatropha can provide a sustainable
A study by Plant Research Professor KS Neelakantan from source of fuel that does not compete
International at Wageningen Tamil Nadu Agricultural University with food.
University reported that there was has studied yields under different
little concrete data available on conditions and reports that a hectare
Figure 1
10 Jatropha: wonder crop? Experience from Swaziland 10Friends of the Earth Swaziland
WATER USE - NOXIOUS AND
BIOFUELS GROWN IN INVASIVE
DROUGHT CONDITIONS? IS JATROPHA SAFE?
D1 Oils has made much of jatropha’s Some farmers are frustrated Jatropha is officially recognised as
ability to grow in semi-arid areas, because when they were given an “invasive species” in some parts of
launching a partnership in Saudi seedlings, D1 Oils told them that the world, including the United States,
Arabia to grow jatropha in the desert. jatropha does not need a lot of water South Africa, Australia and Puerto
But evidence suggests that jatropha to survive. But experience shows that Rico. The Global Invasive Species
will not thrive unless irrigated.33 for jatropha to thrive it needs weekly Programme has recommended that
While jatropha has traditionally watering. as such, it should not be used for
been used to conserve water in the biofuel production.36
soil, with leaves providing shade “My children wish I had not taken the The plant is classified as a noxious
and preventing evaporation, no full jatropha seedlings. D1 Oils had said weed in Western Australia because
studies have been carried out on the the jatropha wouldn’t need water. of its toxic and invasive nature. The
overall impact on water levels of But they need to be watered three state’s government warns that the
intensive jatropha cultivation.34 times a week or they wither and oil produced from jatropha contains
Swaziland is water scarce. die. Now I have to send my children carcinogenic substances and presents
The persistent drought in the country to water these trees. I feel guilty a significant human and animal
has been declared a national because we are struggling to get health risk.37
disaster by the government, and water for domestic use and they have
there are concerns about using water to walk long distances to fetch the “The man told us that a white man in
to irrigate a crop for fuel when there water. This has set me Mbabane would pay us lots of money
is not enough water for daily life, let against my children.” to grow this jatropha. But there is
alone for growing food supplies. D1 no way I will have it on my land. I
Oils has made much of jatropha’s Constance Dlamini, 45, small-scale farmer35 used to use it as a hedge around
ability to grow in semi-arid areas, my home. Then one day my three
launching a partnership in Saudi children had to be hospitalised after
Arabia to grow jatropha in the desert. eating the fruit. When I mentioned
But evidence suggests that jatropha this at the presentation by D1 Oils
will not thrive unless irrigated. they denied that the plant was toxic.”
Zanele Dlamini,
subsistence farmer, Hhohho38
11 Jatropha: wonder crop? Experience from SwazilandRESISTANT TO DISEASE? ENVIRONMENTAL RISK? of mood in Swaziland came amid
growing concern globally about the
“D1 Oils have neglected us, they “No environmental risk assessment has impacts of biofuels on rising food
tricked us into planting these trees, been undertaken over Jatropha, when prices, but there were also concerns
told us they were miracle trees it should have been put under a severe within Swaziland about the impacts of
that wouldn’t need any inputs like environmental scrutiny before it could jatropha cultivation.
expensive fertilisers and pesticides. be embarked upon. This is against the South Africa has banned the
But now we need pesticides and they spirit of the Plant Control Act of 1981.42” commercial cultivation of jatropha
can’t help us. Where are we supposed because of uncertainty about its
to get money from for these expensive Solomon Gamedze from Swaziland’s local environmental impacts. Priscilla
pesticides? And when they finally buy Ministry of Agriculture Sehoole from the agricultural
our seeds will they include the money department said:
I used for the chemicals? I am really Some of the environmental concerns
disappointed.” about jatropha were highlighted “Too many lessons have been
when, in April 2008, the Government learned at high cost when plants that
Grower, Swaziland39 suspended all further planting of promised to be solutions turned into
jatropha until a strategic environmental environmental and social disasters for
The Plant Research Institute study assessment had been carried out. D1 South Africa.44”
dismissed claims that jatropha Oils’ planned high profile launch - with
is resistant to pests and disease, the King of Swaziland, Sir Bob Geldof
reporting that evidence from and Bono reportedly scheduled to
plantations shows problems with attend - was postponed.43
fungi, viruses and attacks by insects. So far, around 2,000 farmers are
Jatropha is vulnerable to a number of believed to have planted around
diseases including leaf spots, collar rot 3,000 hectares with D1 Oils jatropha
and root rot.40 seedlings in Swaziland. The change
Bayer CropScience is reportedly
working on the development of
herbicides, insecticides and fungicides
for jatropha, in partnership
with Daimler.41
Farmers in Swaziland have reported
problems with pests. Jatropha is an
unfamiliar species and has never been
used as a commercial crop, which
means there is no local knowledge of
the pests it attracts or how to control
them. This means that even the Swazi
government department that advises
farmers has no pest list for it and so is
unable to give advice to farmers.
There are common complaints
about a grasshopper-like insect which
feeds on the plants, causing it to wither
and die. One farmer reportedly asked
D1 Oils for help with pesticides was
told to buy it herself. She says she has
no money to buy pesticides and so as
a result the whole field was wiped out.
Crawford Learmonth/capturinglight.me.uk
Home garden planting project
12 Jatropha: wonder crop? Experience from SwazilandDEVELOPMENT
OPPORTUNITIES FOR
POOR COMMUNITIES?
“We believe that rural communities
in Swaziland stand to benefit
significantly from the increase
in rural employment that we are
facilitating through the planting of
jatropha as an energy crop. Our
operations have already created
over 200 jobs in communities that
previously depended on subsistence
farming and we expect planting
to create thousands of jobs in the
long term.45”
D1 Oils ex-CEO Elliott Mannis
The Swaziland venture was promoted
as a development opportunity for
struggling farmers. More than 80 per
cent of the Swazi population depend
chrislang.org
on subsistence farming and have
suffered as a result of the severe
drought in recent years. Crops such Much of the Swazi population depends on food aid
as cotton, sugar cane and maize
have failed and more than two thirds
of the population now depend on “As a mainstay of As noted above, these claims
food aid.46 people’s livelihoods it looks are contested and yields on land
D1 Oils offered free jatropha distinctly marginal.” unsuitable for food production are far
seedlings to farmers and told them from certain.
they could expect returns ODI Review of the indirect effects As the International Institute
of between E600-700 (£39 - £45) of biofuels: Economic benefits for Environment and Development
a tonne.47Development charity World and food insecurity50 (IIED) and the Food and Agriculture
Vision signed an agreement with Organisation (FAO) note in a report
D1 Oils to encourage jatropha A number of jatropha experts have “gains in yields will not be spread
planting. Other supporters include concluded that the crop has most equally. Africa did not benefit from
Sir Bob Geldof who has declared potential as field boundary the Green Revolution, with crop
that jatropha has “life-changing” or planted alongside other crops, yields across the continent declining
potential for poverty stricken with the seeds used locally for soap slightly during the 1970s and beyond.
African countries.48 production, for seedcake and a Yield increases are often confined to
Evidence of the rural farmers fuel oil.51 Its potential as a cash crop the large-scale farming sector, with
enriched by jatropha production is, is unproved.52 smallscale producers unable to take
however, hard to find. An analysis An analysis of the economic advantage of new technologies and
of the labour demands for jatropha benefits of sugar cane, palm oil high cost inputs”.54
cultivation in India found that while and jatropha by the ODI concludes
a hectare of jatropha would create that jatropha shows marginal
some employment, this was sporadic, economic benefits.53
with a labour-intense phase during The potential of jatropha as a
planting (153 days in the first year), key development opportunity for
little labour needed during the Swazi people also depends on
second and third years, and intense whether it lives up to the claims
labour required for harvesting once being made for attaining high yields
the plants reached maturity (27+ on non-crop land without competing
days in years four and five, 46+ days with food crops or causing other
subsequently).49 environmental damage.
13 Jatropha: wonder crop? Experience from SwazilandA FAIR DEAL ENERGY SOVEREIGNTY
FOR FARMERS? FOR SWAZILAND?
Yonge Nawe and ACAT Swaziland Muzie Yende from ACAT explained D1 has said that by planting unused
have found that some of the farmers this meant the farmers would be land with jatropha, Swaziland could
who were contracted to grow unable to rotate their crops in the be producing its own biodiesel,
jatropha for D1 Oils had been asked normal way, reducing their capacity reducing its dependency on oil from
to sign contracts in English, which to grow food. South Africa.58
they could not read or understand. However, the reality is that
The contracts were then taken away “D1 Oils told us growing jatropha will it’s more likely to be exported as
from them. make us rich. I am not sure what’s under current legislation D1 Oils
“The terms and conditions were not in the contract as it was written in cannot distribute their biodiesel in
explained to them. To make matters English and they didn’t leave me a Swaziland. D1 Oils aims to have
worse, D1 Oils failed to leave them copy. I just signed because I needed 20,000 hectares of the plant by
copies so they could seek legal the money.” 2010, producing enough jatropha
guidance on where they stand… to justify building a refinery for
Furthermore, we have learnt that the Titus Shongwe, 45, small scale local use.
contract ties the farmer for 10 years farmer, Swaziland.56
within which they are not permitted to
destroy or uproot the jatropha.55” D1 Oils project director in
Swaziland, Rex Brown, has denied
Sicelo Simelane, Yongenaew told the that farmers cannot terminate the
Swazi Observer contract if they wish to and told the
media that contracts were now being
interpreted for farmers, but farmers
still do not have copies of what they
have signed.57
Friends of the Earth Swaziland
14 Jatropha: wonder crop? Experience from Swaziland
Yonge Nawe community dialogue with subsistence
farmers at Nkhomonye in the poverty stricken Shiselweni regionCONCLUSIONS
The case of D1 Oils in Swaziland The oil yield from jatropha when While jatropha is not a food crop,
demonstrates that many of the it is grown on marginal or waste the use of the plant for biofuels still
industry’s claims for the potential of land with no water, fertiliser or raises issues about competition with
jatropha as a sustainable biofuels pesticide input is, at best, uncertain. land use and food production. The
crop are, at best, unproven. The high yields needed to make experience from Swaziland, backed
No strategic environmental jatropha commercially viable as a up by various scientific studies,
impact assessment has been biofuel crop are far more likely to be implies that policy makers in the EU
carried out on the potential impacts obtained when it is planted on fertile and UK need to treat jatropha with
of jatropha in Swaziland. Some irrigated land. This could mean that the same degree of rigour as other
farmers in Swaziland who have widespread jatropha plantations biofuel crops.
already planted jatropha report for biodiesel compete with food
problems with pests and that the production for fertile agricultural land.
plants need to be watered frequently.
Farmers are already raising
concerns about yield.
Tomas De Mul/IRIN
Wilted maize fields. Swaziland is struggling to
feed its people
Jatropha : wonder crop?
Making life better for people by inspiring solutions to
The rush towards biofuels is fraught environmental problems
with social and environmental Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland
26-28 Underwood Street
concerns and unproven climate London N1 7JQ
www.foe.co.uk
benefits. Tel: 020 7490 1555
Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) Fax: 020 7490 0881
has been promoted by UK biofuel Friends of the Earth is:
• the UK’s most influential national environmental
company D1 Oils as a wonder crop campaigning organisation
because of the plant’s ability to grow • the most extensive environmental network in the
world, with around 2 million supporters across
on marginal and semi-arid land. five continents, and more than 77 national
organisations worldwide
This report for media and policy • a unique network of campaigning local groups,
makers highlights the concerns working in more than 220 communities
Yonge Nawe (siSwati for “You too must conserve”) is
throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland
over jatropha’s impact, questions • dependent on individuals for over 90 a publict interest NGO working to prevent and reduce
per cent of its income. the impacts of inappropriate development on the
some of the claims being made for environment and people. We believe everyone should
enjoy a good quality of life. We campaign on the
biofuel from the plant, and makes Friends of the Earth is the collective name for Friends of
most important issues impacting socio-economically
the Earth Trust, registered charity 281681, company
recommendations to European and number 1533942, and Friends of the Earth Limited, com- disadvantaged communities within Swaziland – those
pany number 1012357. communities typically unable to participate in debates
UK Government. about development that will dramatically affect their
Printed on paper made from 100 per cent post-consumer lives. For further information visit
waste using vegetable-based inks and by a printer with www.yongenawe.com
environmental accreditation ISO 14001.
15 15References
1 http://www.d1bpfuelcrops.com/. 29 Plant Research International, October 2007, Claims and facts on jatropha
2 http://www.dft.gov.uk/rfa/reportsandpublications/ curcas L, REE Jongshaap et al, Wageningen UR.
reviewoftheindirecteffectsofbiofuels.cfm. 30 http://www.i-sis.org.uk/JatrophaBiodieselIndia.php.
3 http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/content/PW/WEED/DECP/fn2007_jatropha_ 31 http://www.tnau.ac.in/tech/swc/jatropha.pdf.
biodiesel.pdf. 32 Overseas Development Institute, Report to the Renewable Fuels Agency,
4 Looking over the Horizon, Visioning and Backcasting for UK Transport June 2008, Review of the indirect effects of biofuels: Economic benefits
Policy, Department for Transport – New Horizons Research and food insecurity, http://www.dft.gov.uk/rfa/_db/_documents/ODI_
Programme 2004/05 Economic_benefits_and_food_insecurity.pdf.
5 Department for Transport: Carbon Pathways Analysis, July 2008 and 33 http://www.tnau.ac.in/tech/swc/jatropha.pdf and http://biodiesel.nedfi.com/
Sustrans submission to Committee on Climate Change: Carbon savings media/download_gallery/spland%20presentation.pdf, p. 249.
from active travel interventions, July 2008 34 Plant Research International, October 2007, Claims and facts on jatropha
6 Sustainable Development Commission: UK climate change programme curcas L, REE Jongshaap et al, Wageningen UR.
review submission, May 2005 and International Energy Agency, Saving Oil 35 Interviewed by Yonge Nawe.
in a Hurry, 2005 36 http://www.gisp.org/publications/newsletter/GISPnewsletter9.pdf.
7 Putting the brakes on climate change: CO2 limit values for cars, CPC 37 http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/content/PW/WEED/DECP/fn2007_jatropha_
Berlin, 2007 biodiesel.pdf.
8 Plant Research International, October 2007, Claims and facts on jatropha 38 Interviewed by Yonge Nawe.
curcas L, REE Jongshaap et al, Wageningen UR. 39 Interviewed by Yonge Nawe.
9 http://www.d1plc.com/index.php. 40 Plant Research International, October 2007, Claims and facts on jatropha
10 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6278140.stm; curcas L, REE Jongshaap et al, Wageningen UR.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/09/world/africa/09biofuel.html?ex=13469 41 http://www.engineerlive.com/power-engineer/renewable-energy/20201/
90400&en=7975f93addeacfea&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss; jatropha-could-this-be-the-crop-to-power-the-future-of-biofuels.thtml.
http://www.biodieselnow.com/forums/p/17727/139872.aspx 42 http://www.observer.org.sz/main.php?id=42441&Section=main&articledate
(from Dublin Independent); =Thursday,%20January%201,%201970
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article2155351.ece; 43 http://www.observer.org.sz/main.php?id=44819&Section=main&articledate
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/biotech/2004026594_ =Thursday,%20January%201,%201970
biotechcrops21.html 44 http://www.mg.co.za/article/2007-09-25-jatropha-fuel-for-thought
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/jun/26/climatechange3; 45 http://www.d1plc.com/news.php?article=108.
http://www.theoildrum.com/node/2214 (A note on jatropha); 46 http://www.mg.co.za/article/2008-03-13-questions-abound-over-swaziland-
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-467800/Are-cows-killing-planet.html. food-crisis.
11 http://www.d1bpfuelcrops.com/ 47 http://www.observer.org.sz/main.php?id=22490&Section=main&articledate
12 See: The biodiesel jatropha project, Executive Insider Briefing – Energy =Thursday,%20January%201,%201970
sector Madagascar. 48 http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article.php?a_id=112872.
13 D1 Oils Trading announcement, 4 February 2009, 49 Overseas Development Institute, Report to the Renewable Fuels Agency,
http://www.d1plc.com/investors.php. June 2008, Review of the indirect effects of biofuels: Economic benefits
14 D1 Oils Annual report and accounts 2007. and food insecurity, p. 52
15 http://www.d1plc.com/aboutHistory.php. http://www.dft.gov.uk/rfa/_db/_documents/ODI_Economic_benefits_and_
16 D1 Oils Annual report and accounts 2007. food_insecurity.pdf
17 http://www.d1plc.com/news.php?article=108. 50 Overseas Development Institute, Report to the Renewable Fuels Agency,
18 http://www.d1plc.com/aboutSustainable.php. June 2008, Review of the indirect effects of biofuels: Economic benefits
19 http://www.dft.gov.uk/rfa/_db/_documents/ODI_Economic_benefits_and_ and food insecurity, http://www.dft.gov.uk/rfa/_db/_documents/ODI_
food_insecurity.pdf. Economic_benefits_and_food_insecurity.pdf.
20 http://www.dft.gov.uk/rfa/_db/_documents/ODI_Economic_benefits_and_ 51 http://www.jatropha.de/.
food_insecurity.pdf. 52 http://www.i-sis.org.uk/JatrophaBiodieselIndia.php.
21 Interviewed by Yonge Nawe. 53 Overseas Development Institute, Report to the Renewable Fuels Agency,
22 Interviewed by Yonge Nawe June 2008, Review of the indirect effects of biofuels: Economic benefits
23 Renewable Fuels Agency, July 2008, The Gallagher Review of the indirect and food insecurity, http://www.dft.gov.uk/rfa/_db/_documents/ODI_
effects of fuel production, p. 37. Economic_benefits_and_food_insecurity.pdf.
24 Plant Research International, October 2007, Claims and facts on jatropha 54 http://www.iied.org/pubs/pdfs/12551IIED.pdf.
curcas L, REE Jongshaap et al, Wageningen UR 55 http://www.observer.org.sz/main.php?id=42117&Section=main&articledate
25 http://www.observer.org.sz/main.php?id=42441&Section=main&articledate =Thursday,%20January%201,%201970.
=Thursday,%20January%201,%201970 56 Interviewed by Yonge Nawe.
26 http://www.d1plc.com/agronomyEnergy.php. 57 http://www.observer.org.sz/main.php?id=44819&Section=main&articledate
27 http://www.article13.com/A13_ContentList.asp?strAction=GetPublication&P =Thursday,%20January%201,%201970.
NID=1178. 58 HYPERLINK “http://www.observer.org.sz/main.php?id=44819&Section=mai
28 http://www.londonstockexchange.com/LSECWS/IFSPages/ n&articledate=Thursday,%20January%201,%20.
MarketNewsPopup.aspx?id=1447506&source=RNS
16 Jatropha: wonder crop? Experience from SwazilandYou can also read
