CDE Policy Briefs provide useful research insights on important development issues. The series offers accessible, timely and policy relevant information on topics such as global change, innovations, sustainable development, natural resources, ecosystem services, governance, livelihoods, and disparities.
No. 1 Beyond biofuels: jatropha’s multiple uses for farmers in East Africa
The jatropha plant produces seeds containing 25–40% oil by weight. This oil can be made into biodiesel. During the recent global fuel crisis, the price of crude oil peaked at over USD 130 per barrel. Jatropha attracted huge interest – it was touted as a wonder crop that could generate biodiesel oil on “marginal lands” in semi-arid areas. Its promise appeared especially great in East Africa. Today, however, jatropha’s value in East Africa appears to lie primarily in its multipurpose use by small-scale farmers, not in large-scale biofuel production.