Is Jatropha The New Wonder Feedstock For Biodiesel? New White Paper Reveals All.

PR-USA.net

The JatrophaWorld 2008 Conference to be held in Jakarta, Indonesia on 23-24 January 2008, is being organized by Centre for Management Technology (CMT). In line with JatrophaWorld 2008, KnowGenix, a Knowledge Partner of CMT, has released a position paper called 'Sustainable Biodiesel Feedstock. Jatropha: Strategic Option' (http://www.futureenergyevents.com/jatrophapaper/).

Author of the position paper, Dr. R. Rajagopal of KnowGenix, explains "the biofuel business is a complex web continuously reacting to the traditional oil business, as rising oil prices spur demand for biofuels." The focus is now on non food crops with Jatropha (http://www.futureenergyevents.com/jatrophapaper) rediscovering itself as the new pin up boy of alternative energy industry proponents. Contemporary trends across the world indicate a pronounced shift towards Jatropha as a more viable and sustainable feedstock for biodiesel compared to other food based crops.

"The worldwide development of biofuels has raised a myriad of issues by stakeholders. Complex trade-offs are demanded by the production, distribution, and utilization of biofuels and its feedstocks. Besides, the biofuel economics has become so location specific for its sustainability that it rules out the possibility of common approaches," said Dr Rajagopal.

The position paper attempts to answer several questions about Jatropha (http://www.futureenergyevents.com/jatrophapaper). These include:

• Is Jatropha really the best among energy crops and does it leave the least environmental footprint?
  
  
• What are the impacts of large scale Jatropha plantations being planned in developing nations to feed the energy demands of the western world?
  
  
• How does the Jatropha economics work for the developing nations?
  
  
• To what extent is it more conducive in reducing GHG emissions?
  
  
• Is Jatropha cultivation and propagation sustainable globally to feed the needed market demand?
  
  
• Is biotechnology the answer to optimize Jatropha cultivation?

Those interested in Jatropha and biofuels are encouraged to download a complimentary copy of 'Sustainable Biodiesel Feedstock. Jatropha: Strategic Option' at http://www.futureenergyevents.com/jatrophapaper

The questions the paper endeavors to answer and other questions will be expanded on at JatrophaWorld 2008.

The JatrophaWorld 2008 (http://www.futureenergyevents.com/jatropha) organizer, Centre for Management Technology (CMT), has brought together the best expertise and brightest brains to discuss and analyze the present and future dynamics of Jatropha. The companies represented include Germany's Fraunhofer Institute of Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Singapore's Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, Malaysia's Asiatic Centre for Genomic Technologies Sdn. Bhd., the Indonesian Center for Estate Crops Research & Development (ICERD) as well as India's Naturol Bioenergy Limited and Labland Biodiesel Private Limited. Delegates will be able to expand their knowledge about Jatropha and alternative energy and also network with the crиme de la crиme of the Jatropha industry.

JatrophaWorld 2008 is going to be the most important conference of 2008 for those who want to keep abreast of the latest developments in the agriculture, processing, socio-economics and financing of Jatropha as an alternative energy source. Those wanting more information or who are vitally interested in Jatropha as a feedstock for Biodiesel and alternative energy must visit http://www.futureenergyevents.com/jatropha While there, they can register for this essential conference.

About Centre for Management Technology

CMT is dedicated to the provision of the latest global technology and business information in the chemical industry through high profile conferences focusing on renewable, liquid energy sources. CMT has organized industry specific conferences on Liquid Natural Gas, and LPG, ground breaking summit on technologies like Coal to Liquids, Gas to Liquids, and Bio-mass to Liquid, and alternative energy or future fuels forums like Biodiesel, Biofuels and Ethanol. This has established CMT as the market leader in promoting this nascent industry as an alternative global powerhouse.

About KnowGenix

KnowGenix a growth strategy service firm with Chemicals, Materials and Energy practices is a Knowledge Partner of CMT. The firm researches business and technology trends in petrochemicals, fine, specialty and life science chemicals value chain as well as in materials and energy. It assists clients with growth strategy services through customized, competitive and timely solutions covering Asia, M.E., EU and US geographies in collaboration with its global partners. To learn more please visit www.knowgenix.com.

Palm oil industry needs to be revamped: Observers

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The so-called "partnership" between companies and farmers in the palm oil business needs to be reconsidered because it benefits big corporations, not farmers, say observers.

Nursuhud, a member of the House of Representatives' Commission IX overseeing social welfare, labor and transmigration affairs said the partnerships, established in 1977, were not equitable.

"The companies, as the core, possess the ability to control everything, like deciding how much of which crops will be accepted and also the criteria," he said Friday during a discussion on the welfare of Indonesian palm oil farmers.

"Farmers are always placed in a marginal position. The farmers are never involved in any attempts to reshape the paradigm."

Indonesia has some 7.2 million hectares of oil palm plantations producing some 16 million tons of crude palm oil. Indonesia controls nearly 36 percent of the world's CPO market, second only to Malaysia with 47 percent.

However, observers say there is still no system to integrate farmers into the industry, as equals of companies.

Suprapto, an oil palm farmer in Peser regency, East Kalimantan, who has been involved in the business for more than 20 years, said that during the harvest farmers often experienced losses because factories could not accommodate the entire crop.

"The price is quite good, but the problem is that we cannot sell all of our crops," he said.

Abetnego Tarigan of the group Oil Palm Watch said companies did not have a substantial interest in buying crops from farmers because most have their own plantations.

"They treat the farmers only as buffers to anticipate times when their plantations do not produce enough," he said.

He said the current system allowed companies to monopolize the industry because they controlled everything from transportation to manufacturing.

Director of plantation protection at the Agriculture Ministry, Hendrajat N, said to improve the welfare of palm oil farmers, the government would launch a program in 2008 to revitalize oil palm plantations.

The program will include the replanting of old plantations and the provision of soft loans so farmers can own at least four hectares of land.

"The revitalization program will also require (oil palm) companies to buy up to 20 percent of the company's needs from farmers," he said.

"The program also aims to develop a sustainable, environmentally safe, oil palm industry." (uwi)

Households, traders seek cheaper cooking oil

Oyos Saroso H.N. and Suherdjoko, The Jakarta Post, Lampung, Semarang

Rising cooking oil prices have prompted some businesses and households in Semarang and Lampung to seek cheaper alternatives, or to cut back costs in other areas.

Mahfudi runs a small business in Gunungpati, Semarang, making banana crackers. He makes about 400 bags of crackers a day, which he sells for Rp 1,500 to Rp 1,750 each.

Because cooking oil makes up a large part of his operational expenses, he has been scrambling to cut costs in other areas.

"I use 16 kilograms of cooking oil a day, which I buy directly from an agent at a price of Rp 7,600 per kilogram. I can't cut the use of cooking oil," he said.

The businessman, who employs five people, has come up with another way to cut costs -- by saving on the fuel for his stove. Instead of buying 15-kilogram canisters of kerosene for Rp 36,000, he now buys 50-kg bags of wood chips from a sawmill for Rp 1,500 that he uses to fire his stove.

"At first, I didn't expect that I could save that much money by not buying kerosene. When I first tested it, the wood didn't work very well. Then I made a simple stove that could use the wood. I have been using the wood chips ever since."

Rising cooking oil prices have meant a change of menu for housewife Rika Saraswati in Semarang.

"I am trying to save money by not frying food too much. I usually fry eggs, but now I boil them. I will only fry food if the children really want some fried foods."

In Lampung, several housewives have begun making their own cooking oil using coconut. With just three coconuts, they can produce a liter of cooking oil.

"Although making our own cooking oil means more work, it saves money," said Sudarti, a resident of Suburbatu in Bandarlampung.

"When I'm tired of making my own cooking oil, I don't fry food, I just steam it."

For others, however, there is little they can do about the higher cooking oil prices.

Fried snack seller Setiawan said he usually uses five kilograms of cooking oil a day in running his business in the heart of Semarang city, Central Java. Two months ago, a kilogram of cooking oil cost Rp 5,500, and now it is Rp 7,800.

"I don't know how I can maintain my prices. I use a kerosene stove and I have to make sure the snacks are dry and hot all the time in order not to disappoint my customers," said Setiawan, who sells fried banana, tempeh and tofu from a simple pushcart.

For Setiawan, higher cooking oil prices mean he takes home less money.

"What else can I do? I try to save on the cooking oil but it doesn't make any difference. I still use four to five kilograms of cooking oil."

A fried snack seller in Bandarlampung, Margono, has not worked for the past two months because he was losing money as a result of cooking oil prices.

"When the price of cooking oil rose from Rp 6,800 to Rp 8,000 a liter, I turned to used oil. But when the used oil supply ran out, I stopped my business since I wasn't making enough to cover the costs," said the resident of Kampung Sawah subdistrict.

Before prices rose, he spent Rp 75,000 a day running his business, which generally brought in around Rp 120,000 a day. But with the higher prices he was having to spend Rp 110,000 a day, while still earning the same amount.

"I can't raise the prices of my snacks, even though in addition to the cooking oil the prices of tempeh, tofu and flour have also gone up."

Local trade offices and associations have introduced efforts to bring down cooking oil prices.

In Central Java, the trade and industry office, in collaboration with the Association of Indonesia Vegetable Oil Producers, is selling cooking oil in markets for Rp 6,700 a kilogram.

Around 5,000 liters of the oil is being distributed to each market, and each buyer is limited to 10 kg. Officials hope this initiative will bring down the price of cooking oil to Rp 6,500 a kilogram by the end of the month.

"We have also asked six cooking oil distributors in Semarang to support the move," said trade office executive Edison Ambarura.

In Lampung, the administration has asked five cooking oil factories to back an initiative, set to begin May 21, to sell the oil at Rp 6,750 per kilogram. Cooking oil prices in traditional markets in Bandarlampung are currently hovering between Rp 8,500 and Rp 9,000 a kilogram.

The factories have agreed to provide 1,000 tons of crude palm oil per month, between May and July, to be processed into cooking oil. This is far below the 15,000 tons of CPO per month requested by the administration.

"Based on the agreement, each factory will allocate 200 tons of CPO per month," said the Lampung administration's assistant secretary, Djunaidi Djaya.

Bandarlampung trader Mu'anah, however, is pessimistic the efforts will drive down prices.

"The government needs to watch out for CPO producers and agents. They sell cooking oil at high prices. Frankly, we're confused. The administration is working to bring down prices by selling cooking oil at cheaper prices. But how can prices come down if it's already high from the agents?" asked the 50-year-old trader at Kangkung market.