The March 14 edition of Financial Mail reports on the use of jatropha as a biofuel feedstock as an alternative to food crops. The food-versus-fuel debate is raging like a wildfire on the African veld, and the South African government responded to local critics by banning the use of maize for biofuels. Given that maize arguably produces no more energy than goes into its production, that was probably a wise decision. But the issues go deeper.
While jatropha has high oil content, creates jobs, grows on wasteland that is unsuitable for many food crops, requires little or no water, and does not directly threaten food security, there is another concern. The Department of Agriculture considers the plant to be an alien invader. Priscilla Sehoole of the department says:
Too many lessons have been learnt at high cost when plants that promised to be solutions turned into environmental and social disasters for SA. The plant has to be tested locally to ensure environmental impact and sustainability before it is introduced.
South Africa has ample experience of foreign plants that have spread, destroying indigenous plants and sucking groundwater supplies dry. So, despite numerous advantages of the jatropha seed for biofuels, there are other concerns besides food security. The Science and Development Network reports that China's push to increase biofuel production (which also excludes food crops) threatens to increase deforestation and reduce biodiversity.
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