If it passes quarantine we need some more information on this crop.

Frost tolerance?
Temp tolerance?
Water requirement?
Pest susceptability?
Soil type?
Nutrient requirements?
Harvest technique?

Are we beter off using proven farming practices to grow crops like cotton, soybean, canola for their oil producing capabilities??

Hi Folks,
A lot of study and research has to be done if at all were are serious about introducing Jatropha In oz.I am involved in this thingy for quiet a while now.
More then just making a fast buck ,this plant has many many uses and the deravatives and excat species ,selection etc. needs to be undertaken seriously.
If you go through my earlier posts on the subject you will know what I mean.
The best upfront option would be to get the Govt and a few Uni's involved to carry out the research on behalf of potential farmers to be.
That way a systematic analyisis region wise can be conducted.Species identified,soil testing done,weather conditions defined...all that.
As of yesterday,there are 1032 varities identified worldwide...so you know the humungous task.Plus a few varities are being cloned in Agrentina and Brazil and Mallia

So in my oppinion if someone wants to involve in Jatropha farming and plantation in oz.They should first involve and carry out in debt research in collaboration with Institutions and Govt bodies.And proceed from there.

Just jumping the gun and going head on may result in disaster.

Cheers
Sauman

Hi Sauman,
I am on Skype and Yahoo --Will be back home tommorow Thursday evening --let me know your call name plz ..
Calvin Muller

Hey Calvin, just put your skype/yahoo deatils in your profile, then they will appear at the top of your posts under your other info (you will see Sauman's are there in his post before your's).

__________________
Robert Fyvie
Site Admin
Sydney Biodiesel Users' Group and Australian Biofuel Users


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Rainboaussie,

If it's any use to you, I have 5 acres of marginal (that's being kind) land in central Queensland.

A far cry from the 4-5000 you are looking for, but it also a concrete floored shed and a newish poly tank.

I have long been toying with the idea of growing Jatropha or Chinese Tallow trees there, then processing in the shed, all powered by my own product run in a diesel genset. You know, the utopian self sustained pipe dream.

If you can show me that it's not illegal to grow in Queensland, and want to either come up here or supply me with seedlings, I would be agreeable to running a pilot plant type trial of your idea.

The land is already absolutely infested with "mother of millions", which is a declared noxious weed.

I have a couple of diesel rotary hoes coming as well, and had planned to try an assault on the place, to clean it up.

I wouldn't know much about the agriculture, but as an instrument fitter with extensive experience in pipe fitting, pumps, valves, etc, I'm sure I could knock up an awesome reactor.

Around this area, ethanol is on everyones wish list. If it could be made using ethanol (which most say it can't), you might find some real support round here.

At least until some big oil lovin' pollie decided to smash us like bugs.

The only thing that concerns me is that I have read that Jatropha is highly carcenogenic, even from just handling it. I have also read that there is a Mexican variety that is low on the toxin that causes this.

Would love to see something like this happen.

Hi vegiehilux,
This is just what I have been looking for -could be ideal -and the idea of working with you to produce biofuel is great -I am waiting for the guy that is still in India (I believe) to return and we can visit you and see what could be possible --5 acres is fine for a trial /just what I needed .
Can we contact each other by private message --dont know how to do that on here ??
Regards
rainboaussie (victoria )

Hi Rainboaussie,

Please contact me if you are interested in doing a trial on our property near Yass, NSW, close to the Hume Hwy. Area available up to a 5 hectares.

Jake

This is the version that appears to be allowed from looking at the doc's on the AQIS website.

Jatropha spp.

These below are the versions that are specifically banned

J. angustifolia, J. messinica, J. phyllacantha and J. urens



Sauman you might be best suited to get us some info on the "spp" versions of Jatropha that is allowed into AUS about it's drought restance and pest's and etc etc etc etc

__________________
Dave

Rainboaussie,

There is a private messages facilty here apparently, please check it out.

At worst, if you can't make it work, setup a hotmail address or some thing like that and post it here, and I'll contact you.

Jake has also made a similar offer. Might I suggest we try this in a couple of different places and share our results?

Let's not do what so many boffins seem to do in the way of going alone at great expense, to be "the one". If we warn each other of the stumbling blocks, we can then share the wins as well.

What about the toxicity issue, and the legals?

Calvin,

There is someone in the Riverina who also might be interested.

Have you sourced Jatropha seeds or seedlings and would you be willing to sell these to people for trials?