The role of Jatropha Curcas in support of the Thai Government's ...

Director General Department of Alternative Energy And Efficiency
Royal Government of Thailand
The role of Jatropha Curcas in support of the
Thai Government’s National Policy for Bio Diesel



Disclaimer:
The views expressed in this document are those of the author. The content is not necessarily the view
of D1 Oils Plc, DEDE the DTi, any other contributing or, referenced body.

Executive Summary
This report is the result of an integrated approach to the potentials that may be delivered from the
cultivation of Jatropha Curcas L in Thailand, in support of the Kingdoms Bio Diesel fuel security
policies. It has been performed at the request of the DEDE (Government of Thailand Department of
Energy) and sponsored by the Government of UK DTi (Department of Trade and Industry). D1 Oils
Plc has facilitated the process of reporting with the assistance of various educational institutions,
government of Thailand ministries and departments, The Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural
Communities, and the Thai Federation of Industry.

The opinion expressed in the report is that under well-managed circumstances the massive cultivation
of Jatropha Curcas L in Thailand will have social, economic and environmental benefits for the
country; contributing to both fuel and food security.

The report outlines pro poverty reduction policies that will have a positive influence upon agricultural
communities, technology transfer, banking service build up in rural locations and inclusion with both
middle level and executive industry/enterprise activities. Further, the report illustrates that rural
communities may be viewed as major contributors to the fuel economy of the Kingdom; and that a
system of agricultural extension to industry process’s should be established that embraces an end to
end solution for the harvest values of Jatropha Curcas L, inclusive of the delivery of Bio Diesel and
additional value added products at a sustainable level.

The North East of Thailand has been assessed as the most desirable location for a Jatropha Curcas L
Agriculture to Bio Diesel and for a “value adding” industry platform. Additional areas of Thailand have
been evaluated for Jatropha Curcas L Agriculture and discovered to be suitable.

In order to achieve the goals of the Government of Thailand for the production of Bio Diesel there is a
need for the systematic and scientific propagation of Jatropha Curcas L for an extended period. This
agricultural extension should be carried out on public land under the supervision of a variety of
interlinked government and international departments. Cultivators and cultivation areas will need to be
registered and linked into forward bank planning activities that embrace the Kyoto Protocols Clean
Development Mechanism, as this will give rise to the acquisition of Carbon Credits when fuel
substitution is established.

The report illustrates that there is a comprehensive need for collaborative development policy that
embraces decentralised agricultural extension and decentralised Bio Diesel production to market. The
complete solution requires the establishing of partnership between the National Agricultural Extension
Services, Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Communities, The National Petroleum Marketing Group
PTT and an end to end commercial development solutions provider for JCL Agriculture to Industry,
possessed of the ability to promote agricultural extension, decentralised Bio Diesel production to
market, and to accommodate new value adding industry for the processing of JCL biological residues.
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Department of Trade and Industry Dti United Kingdom 
Director of Trade and Investment British Embassy Bangkok 

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Director General Department of Alternative Energy And Efficiency
Royal Government of Thailand
It is anticipated that the report may be used to form a template for the ASEAN regions desire to
promote fuel security programs from the cultivation of Jatropha Curcas. It is observed that the policies
that have been adopted by Thailand are frequently complimented within the ASEAN community; the
process of research has illustrated that there is a high degree of policy synergy between the
neighbouring countries of Thailand. This synergy is reflected most within the over arching policies of
the GMS (Greater Mekong Sub region) as related to the promotion of economic corridors linking
Thailand with Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and the Southern provinces of the PRC.

Various parties to establish policy initiatives and support collaborative business planning strategies
that will lead to comprehensive decentralised JCL Agriculture to Industry programs throughout the
ASEAN region 2006-2012; designed to meet and exceed the bio diesel targets of the national
governments, may use the report.

Preface
Thailand’s impressive economic growth over the last three decades fuelled rapid industrialization and
Urbanization; intensified agricultural production and expanded the fishing industry. This growth relied
extensively on the country’s abundant and diverse natural resources. Consequently, this has caused
pollution of air and water in urban areas, degradation of land and water quality and loss of natural
habitats.

The issues in the “green” environmental agenda are obvious in the rural areas of Thailand. This is
evidenced by the rapid decline in forest cover, which halved over the years to about 25 percent in
1998. However, measures taken by government in the late 1980’s to prohibit logging have begun to
pay dividends the deforestation rate has substantially dropped to 0.2 percent/year. The rapid felling
has led to other environmental problems such as conversion to dry land, sedimentation of rivers, and
loss of natural habitats.

Bangkok stands out among the urban centres in Thailand with the most pressing “brown”
environmental problems. Foremost among them is air pollution. Through the government’s proactive
measures, lead levels have been substantially reduced. However, other pollutants such as
particulates continue to pose major health impacts. Domestic sewage, industrial wastewater, solid
hazardous wastes have shown dramatic rises during this period of rapid economic expansion, and
about a third of the surface water bodies are classified to be of poor quality. On the “blue” front, a
rapid increase in demand combined with water scarcity is resulting in tremendous pressure on
Thailand’s water resources. Coastal areas in Thailand have been seriously degraded by expansion of
capture fishing, shrimp aquaculture, industry and tourism. Fisheries catch has increased while fishing
yields have declined.

In response to these problems, the Government and people of Thailand have launched initiatives to
improve air and water quality, reforest degraded land, adopt energy efficient technologies and invest
in pollution abatement schemes. To further its strategic objectives, the Government announced a 20-
year policy and perspective plan for the environment in 1997. These responses have benefited from
information and data obtained through monitoring programs of several international and national
agencies. Data has been published in numerous reports including “Environment Statistics of
Thailand”, “State of Thailand’s Environment”, and “Pollution in Thailand.” Most of the data, however,
has been presented in raw form. Thailand will need to build its technical capacity to make statistical
outputs more useful in designing targeted policy responses and deciding on investments. The
information contained in this report has been compiled from statistical reports of various Government
agencies, contributions from universities, personal communications, United Nations, World Bank and
Thailand Government reports. Avoiding the use of charts and graphs, this report seeks to deliver a
degree of readability focused on a holistic approach to the introduction of Jatropha Curcas L as a
potential major contributor to the national bio diesel program.

Clive Richardson: "About two-thirds of agricultural land has been degraded in the past 50 years by
erosion, salinization, compaction, nutrient depletion, biological degradation or pollution. About 40
percent of agricultural land has been strongly or very strongly degraded".

World Bank, UN and World Resources Institute “World Resources Report”
- "The relationship between economic growth, consumption of natural resources and the generation of
waste must change. Strong economic performance must go hand in hand with sustainable use of
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Department of Trade and Industry Dti United Kingdom 
Director of Trade and Investment British Embassy Bangkok 

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Director General Department of Alternative Energy And Efficiency
Royal Government of Thailand
natural resources and levels of waste, maintaining biodiversity, preserving ecosystems and avoiding
desertification. To meet these changes, the International heads of state conference agrees: that
Agricultural policy and its future development should, among its objectives, contribute to achieving
sustainable development by increasing healthy, high quality products, environmentally sustainable
production methods, including organic production, renewable materials and the protection of
biodiversity."


“The ASEAN low price agriculture and trade policies have in effect been undermining the ability of
today’s farmers to fulfill the increasing expectations of society. Farmers wish to respond to the
expectations of society but trade policies, as well as market conditions, must make this possible”.



Objectives and Observations:
“The Thai government seeks to realise bio diesel consumption of 500,000 litres per day by 2008 and
nine million litres in 2011/12. Diesel demand is currently 47 million litres a day”.

“The concept of substituting bio-diesel produced from plantations on eroded soils for conventional
diesel fuel has gained wide-spread attention. In recent months, the Kingdom of Thailand’s
Government as well as the majority of ASEAN state governments has expressed their support for
bringing marginal lands, which cannot be used for food production, under cultivation for this purpose”.

“Jatropha curcas is a well established plant in Asia. It produces oil-rich seeds, is known to thrive on
eroded lands, to require only limited amounts of water, nutrients and capital inputs. This plant offers
the option both to cultivate wastelands and to produce vegetable oil suitable for conversion to bio-
diesel”.

“The benefits for developing and transition economic regions of the world go further than producing
fuel for local use. Since the planting, growing and refining of Jatropha Curcas L seeds requires
manpower, its cultivation will generate large numbers of jobs in areas of low employment. Errol
Elsdon from PetroSAF, an African fuel distribution company, estimates that Jatropha plantations are
likely to create at least one job for every four hectares of planted trees; the total impact on agricultural
employment alone could be huge”.

“All countries are aware that as the mechanism of the Kyoto Treaty is now in force to reduce industrial
and commercial greenhouse gas emissions; the planting of bio fuel crops may well create carbon
sinks that can earn cash through their sale of emissions credits to polluting industries in developed
countries. The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) created by Kyoto is still in its infancy. However,
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Department of Trade and Industry Dti United Kingdom 
Director of Trade and Investment British Embassy Bangkok 

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Director General Department of Alternative Energy And Efficiency
Royal Government of Thailand
if CDM credits do become available for planting trees, it could add a further inducement to plant
Jatropha Curcas L As a prime Agriculture to energy carbon sink”.

“Jatropha plants control erosion; residues can be used to improve soil. High-quality bio diesel made
from Jatropha Curcas oil produced to meet stringent standards and emission norms is manufactured
using high specification technology supported by the agro-chemical industry. Jatropha shrubs can
deliver 1,600 to 3,000 litres of bio diesel per hectare, depending on irrigation conditions, the number
of shrubs planted per hectare and good farm practice management, under the most ideal conditions
there is potential to develop more than 12,000lters of oil per H/a.

“More versatile than hydrogen or new propulsion systems such as fuel cell technology, bio-diesel can
be used in today’s vehicle fleets worldwide and may also offer a viable path to sustainable
transportation, i.e., lower greenhouse gas emissions and enhanced mobility, even in remote areas.
Mitigation of global warming and the creation of new regional employment opportunities can be the
important cornerstones of any forward looking transportation system for developed, transition and
emerging economies”.

It is anticipated that Jatropha seeds grown on 10 000H/a will produce up to 60,000 tons of bio diesel
and generate 6,000 industrial and agricultural jobs. Grown on a national scale, over 4 Million H/a's of
planting would generate 2.4 million jobs. “Global production of bio diesel is ramping up, moving from
around 2 billion liters in 2003 to about 5 billion this year (2005), possibly reaching an estimated 24
billion liters by 2020. - 2005 report published by the Paris-based International Energy Agency”

Thailand is considered to be the socio-economic and political hub for the S. East
Asia ASEAN community



To meet demand, bio diesel makers have a wide range of options. Nevertheless, the cultivation of the
Jatropha plant, a tropical shrub that grows in near absence of water, is starting to catch the fancy of
researchers, policy makers, and the energy industry. Agricultural investors are already starting to see
a return.

National Policies are emerging:
Strengthening national policy frameworks supporting MDG’s for poverty reduction and
Sustainable development;
Promoting rural energy services establishing equitable economic growth
Supporting clean energy technologies for
Sustainable development; and
Increasing access to investment financing for
Sustainable energy

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Department of Trade and Industry Dti United Kingdom 
Director of Trade and Investment British Embassy Bangkok 

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Director General Department of Alternative Energy And Efficiency
Royal Government of Thailand



Dr Clive Richardson, Mr Manit Koothanapath. M. Eng. Energy Technology, Miss Sudthanom
Tancharoen. PhD Candidate

Facilitated by the Executive Office and Founding Directors of D1 Oils (UK) Plc.

Acknowledgements:
“The project team has been welcomed by many people across the regions of Thailand and supported
by numerous public and private organisations. As always there is insufficient space to make mention
of each individual and we apologise unreservedly for any omission from this list. Certain individuals
and organisations have played a significant role by first promoting the Scope of Works then ensuring
that all facilities at their disposal have been availed to ensure report delivery. In addition the process
of participation has evolved the interests of many individuals and organisations within Thailand and
internationally. We are deeply indebted to all who have given direct support, assisted with contact
arrangements and most of all provided a base for operational activities”.

In no particular order of merit, we would like to say Thank You, very much to: The Ministries
executive of Energy: DEDE Department of Alternative Energy and Agriculture: Field Crops and
Forestry. Health: Department of Alternative Medicine Transport: Department of Fuel Standards and
Education: Departments of Innovation Science and Technology Board of Investment Treasury:
Rural, Urban and National Fiscal Policy Unit and; the Office of the Prime Minister. Special
Economic Development Policy Unit Thai Federation of Industry

Jatropha Curcas steering committee
Dr Barry Holmes , Mark Quinn, Amnuay Thongsathitya, Thiraphong Tangthirasuan ,Erhard F. Flother,
Seb Walhain, Dr. Boonthong Ungtrakul, Dr Boonrod Sajjakulnikit, Prof. Dr. Montri Chulavatnatol,
Somchai Kokkamhaeng, Chrisop von Lattorff MBA, Marc Drew, Prof.DR Chamnan Chutkaew, Vichian
Suksoir, Khemika Avatar,Narong Techwattangagan, Anat Prapasawad, Wittaya Jiraphan, Nopporn
Wongtunkard, Aporpm Sukprasert, Nipath Kuasakul, Anusaj Phongsavath, Aree Wattana Tummakird,
Pepan Riangtonglang, Philip M Snell,Dr Settha Siripin,Irma Lubrecht, Kathleen L. Abdalla, PhD,
JoAnne DiSano, Nicolas Ayoub, Dr Gavin Wood, Christine Lins, Arno D Tomowski, Walter Bohme,
Pongtip Puvacharoen, Dr Albrecht Kaupp,Dr Guillermo R.Balce, Bob Rose,Dr Karlheinz Berg, Colin
Hygate,R.K.Pandry, Pisit Serwiwattana, Sven Gaber, Bilal Anwar,Metta Visessombat, Terapol
Ketphan, Assoc. Prof. Dr Jesda Laewkulaya, Somsak Srisombun PhD, Assoc. Prof Dr Samakkee
Boonyawat, Karl Watkins, Dr. V. Murugappan ; Director of Centre for Soil & Crop Management
Studies. Dr. K. Vairavan; Professor, Department of Agronomy Mr.Tun Lean; Director
General of General Department of Energy Mr. S. Yohanes Iwan Baskoro Mr. Ngoeu Sakhon Mr.
Khemarin Khieng Mr. San You Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sombat Teekasap Chairman of Env. Management
Industry Club and Chairman of Research Management Development Committee Assoc. Prof. Dr.
Jesda Kaewkulaya; Vice President for Academic Service Assoc. Prof. Dr. Samakkee Boonyawat; Vice
President for Research Affairs Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sombat Chinawong. Mr. Nopporn Wongtunkard;
Research Officer of Technical Services Division.BAAC Mr. Saner Phongsom; Business Care
Unit Officer BAAC. Dr. Alongkorn Kornthong Director Dr. Somsak Srisombun Senior Research
Scientist Mr.Praphon Wongtharua; Renewable Energy Specialist Mr. Somchai Kokkamhaeng;
Director of Research and Development Office Mr. Narong Techawattanagan; Managing Director Mr.
Winai Laohakunakorn; Production Manager Mr. Weerapon Champabua Ms. Siriporn Sailasuta
Director-General Department of Alternative Energy Development and Mr. Pasan Teparak Deputy
Director-General Department of Protocol Mr. Chavalit Wongviroj Customs Department Mr. Werayut
Yoothongkum Department of ASEAN Affairs Miss Sirivilai Rojprasitporn Department of ASEAN Affairs
Pol. Maj. Gen. Wajjanont Thirawat Metropolitan Police Bureau.Pol. Lt. Boonchai Towannasutr
Immigration Bureau, Royal Thai Police.Pol. Lt. Gen. Prung Boonpadung Special Branch: Royal Thai
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Department of Trade and Industry Dti United Kingdom 
Director of Trade and Investment British Embassy Bangkok 

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Director General Department of Alternative Energy And Efficiency
Royal Government of Thailand
Police.Pol. Maj. Gen. Tritot Ronnaritivichai Special Branch: Royal Thai Police.Pol. Col. Pisut
Tunprayura Special Branch: Royal Thai Police.Mr. Sittichod Wantawin Energy Policy and Planning
Mr. Jitt Dinmuang Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited Ms. Chadavadee Kongsiri Thai
Airways International Public Company Limited Pol. Col. Ratchapol Harnchana Office of the
Commissioner-General, Royal Thai Police Ms. Phatchareeporn Harnsakul Department of Alternative
Energy Development and Ms. Suree Buranasajja Department of Alternative Energy Development and
Mr. Nawin Narknava Department of Alternative Energy Development and Miss Niramon Kaewkallaya
Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency.








The diterpenoid Curcuson A
The diterpenoid Curcuson C


Biomass-based energy interventions offer solutions through
effective use of the land. Biomass crops, as perennials can
reduce soil erosion and restore fertility through avoidance of
agrochemical application. Compared with food crops like
cereals, application rates of agrochemicals per hectare are
one-fifth to one-twentieth for perennial energy crops.




Appropriate selection of species ensures biodiversity and improves the landscape when degraded
lands and other wastelands are used for biomass production. Improved land cover through vegetation
leads to water retention and improved microclimatic conditions with potential positive hydrological
situations at the local level. A national Jatropha Curcas Agriculture to Industry project ensures
effective management of land resources, there is never a time when positive land use activity
does not add to the GDP of a country or region, reducing dependency on imports while enhancing
the inflow of income to primary agricultural sectors.

Ergo: Plantations for Bio Diesel/Bio Fuels have all these advantages

Conclusions:
The scope of works established to investigate the feasibility and utility for Jatropha Curcas a as
desirable plant species in support of the objectives of the has been a timely tool for proactive
intervention and collaboration.

The nature of policy development in Thailand al ows for highly interactive communications between
Government departments, private and public sector organisations and the media. For the last several
months and for the near future the issue of “fuel security” related to the utility of land and agricultural
practices has been and will remain high on the national agenda.

Thailand’s executive has been acutely aware of numerous inter-related cross sector weaknesses for
an extended period. While there have been frequent studies and research projects that have
highlighted deforestation, land degradation, the need for pro poverty reduction policy, consideration
for biomass, (along with bio fuel solutions and many other aspects of potential reform that would
reach out an embrace both national and rural development objectives) none has attempted to deliver
an integrated solution. Jatropha Curcas L, Agriculture to Industry can deliver a solution that has long-
term impact upon socio-economic and environmental objectives.

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Department of Trade and Industry Dti United Kingdom 
Director of Trade and Investment British Embassy Bangkok 

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Director General Department of Alternative Energy And Efficiency
Royal Government of Thailand
The objective of this work has been to seek out feasibility and examine some of the potential positive
Socio-economic and environmental values that can be associated with the massive agricultural
expansion of Jatropha Curcas L.

The observations may be considered exceptional. Decentralised agricultural extension of Jatropha
Curcas may deliver values that impact positive upon all areas of the Thailand economy delivering
good quality impact upon fuel security, promoting rural economic activity, providing for land and
forestry protection, improving the water table; positively influencing precipitation. Most importantly, the
massive expansion Jatropha Curcas L will embrace the lives of Thailand’s least wealthy populations,
unpaid rural family members, (which may be considered to be female heads of household) females
educated to primary levels only, as well as both females and males of maturity that have had scant
opportunity to attend schooling for an extended period or integrate with the development of life skills
that would produce an income resource.

Demand for the lead product “Bio Diesel” from Jatropha Curcas may be considered inexhaustible.
Thailand, in fact the developed and developing world, has a voracious appetite for transport fuel.

Advances with alternative energy options that rely upon the delivery of new technologies will take
many decades to emerge at levels that will call for direct changes or reductions in demand for
combustion fuels, be they petroleum based or bio renewable. None wil replace the need for
decentralised product delivery.

The delivery of a decentralised agricultural base linked to a decentralised product distribution centre
allows for a reversal of traditional fuel product flow into a fuel distribution system; delivering the
maximum amount of economic benefit to the most distant populations of traditional fuel distribution
systems.

Agriculturally driven “fuel security” initiatives may be considered the most pro poor reduction
development policies of all. Energy, in any form, must be considered to be one of the main ingredients
of the millennium development goals while the promotion of renewable energy resources embraces
the primary sentiment of the Kyoto Protocols, and agenda 21.

Were we to consider the massive promotion of Jatropha Curcas L for the delivery of Bio Diesel alone
there would be no “financial statement” of feasibility. When we consider the decentralised
manufacturing of Bio Diesel from Jatropha Curcas there are considerations that go beyond simple
financial impact based on profit or debt servicing ability. If we extend the functionality of the Jatropha
Curcas L harvest to embrace “added value” products that are a result of harvest processing to Bio
Diesel there is an exceptional statement of feasibility. Biological residues derived from the
decentralised processing of Jatropha Curcas to Bio Diesel have high values; that reduce the burdens
of importation of petroleum-based goods into Thailand.

In numerous research and project documentation we discover that the potentials of Jatropha Curcas
have frequently been touted in support of agricultural, social and economic security for developing
and transitional economic regions; in Asia, India and Africa as well as South America and the Pacific
Island States. For the most part these projects have failed. They have failed because they have
refused to consider a comprehensive end to end solution “Jatropha Curcas Agriculture to Industry”
and failed to consider that there is ample justification for capital intense first quality technology
interventions that can link into the established global and national networks that make up the
petroleum industry. This is the most ubiquitous of all industry platforms touching every corner of the
globe from micro to macro economic climates.

Jatropha Curcas Agriculture to Industry requires a highly integrated approach to internal market
development mechanisms. Primarily in support of agricultural extension, rural agricultural bank
finance for farming families, individuals and community groups, and established harvest collection;
processing centres (Micro-Economic Development Zones) that facilitates the decentralised
processing of harvests to Bio Diesel while linking into the fuel and transport networks in order to
deliver biological residues to a centralised “value adding” industry sector. There is an absolute
requirement for public sector moreover private sector intervention that will establish long-term
commodity markets for JCL harvest derivatives. Taking Bio Diesel as the lead product or driver for
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Department of Trade and Industry Dti United Kingdom 
Director of Trade and Investment British Embassy Bangkok 

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Director General Department of Alternative Energy And Efficiency
Royal Government of Thailand
establishing Jatropha Curcas agricultural extension allows the focus of intervention to be upon an
easily discernable economic benefit.

Bio Diesel is a direct desirable substitute for traditional petroleum derivatives.

However, Bio Diesel alone cannot justify the massive agricultural expansion of Jatropha Curcas.
Quite simply put, the processes to manufacture Bio Diesel, as a stand-alone product from Jatropha
Curcas, renders scant or minimal feasibility. In fact, we should point out that most project promotion
seeks feasibility by labouring Bio Diesel’s value at the expense of rural agricultural groups. Feasibility
being illustrated by seeking the lowest value (cost) on harvest delivery. The outcome of this has been
and will continue to be that farmers simply ignore Jatropha Curcas L as a potential revenue resource
and cultivate, more intensely, those crops that can deliver sustenance or income.

In order to illustrate the full potentials of Jatropha Curcas one has to consider a complete Agriculture
to Industry economic model for harvest values supported with due consideration of both social and
environmental benefits. In this it is possible to deliver “quality” economic values that can encourage
and sustain agricultural activity.

Any bio fuel project that does not focus upon sustaining primary agricultural activity will fail.

Constant changes in the established market values for petroleum products deliver the incentives for
investigating the potentials to be gained from Bio Diesel manufacturing while we must consider that
this is only one element of the value chain that will be embraced when we consider Jatropha Curcas
Agriculture to Industry. The simplest “added value” product that can be derived from Jatropha Curcas
seed Harvest residue is first grade, quality Organic Fertilizer. This has a direct substitution value upon
the importation of inorganic nitrogen based fertilisers. Thailand is a major importer of fertilizer.

There is no location in the world that processes huge amounts of Jatropha Curcas L harvest value.
There is no fully established processing or value adding industry associated with Jatropha Curcas L.
The vast majority of research that has set out to identify products that can be derived form Jatropha
Curcas has done so at laboratory level. In most instances, we can assume that there is insufficient
material available, in any single location, country or region, to justify industrial interest in the
numerous potentials that are attributed to Jatropha Curcas.

However; with Bio Diesel as a “lead” product, it is possible to envisage two tones of Biological residue
for every ton of (Oil extract) Bio Diesel. At the desired level of agricultural output, industry (in Thailand
alone) would be considering many millions of tons per annum. We may also point out that mature
trees can render good quantities of Jatropha Curcas Latex and leaves. Each part of the Jatropha
Curcas tree has been analysed and investigated for potential use. Some are illustrated in the
document text; all have potential high values most require attention from industry to obtain best value
from extraction to market delivery.

Without doubt, even though the values cannot be determined exactly, we are able to say that
Jatropha Curcas harvest values, when viewed holistically, suggest potential for exceptional economic
values that are sustainable.

Numerous documents and research papers focus upon the negative impact of mono-cropping to
create cash crop economics. Jatropha Curcas is unique in many ways. There may be great value in
promoting substantial plantations or orchards of Jatropha Curcas and it is anticipated that many large
investors wil seek to develop in this manner. However; the vast majority of Jatropha Curcas L
agricultural extension in Thailand, and throughout the developing and transition economic regions of
the tropics, will be highly decentralised executed by small farming families, communities and/or by
forestry and crop protection initiatives. Quite possibly, for the most part on public/community, marginal
land areas and threatened zones, most logically as crop protection, wind breaks, land rehabilitation
and soil erosion defences. Millions of H/a’s of degraded, deforested soil eroded land areas are
available in Thailand and this is the case in Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, Indonesia and
southern China, as wel as India, Africa, South America and the Pacific Islands.

The Greater Mekong Sub region economic and social development programs embrace Thailand as
the commercial hub for the region. The proposed and existing economic highways of the sub region
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Department of Trade and Industry Dti United Kingdom 
Director of Trade and Investment British Embassy Bangkok 

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Director General Department of Alternative Energy And Efficiency
Royal Government of Thailand
link Thailand in a favourable way with neighbouring countries. The highways cut across regions that
have been shown to have favourable cultivation conditions for Jatropha Curcas L. (Annex 1)

Jatropha Curcas is a well-established plant in many ASEAN regions and throughout the tropical
world. It produces oil-rich seeds, is known to thrive on eroded lands, and to require only limited
amounts of water, nutrients and capital inputs. This plant offers the option both to cultivate wastelands
and to produce vegetable oil suitable for conversion to bio-diesel. More versatile than hydrogen and
new propulsion systems such as fuel cell technology, bio-diesel can be used in today's vehicle fleets
worldwide, offering a viable path to sustainable transportation, i.e., lower greenhouse gas emissions,
and enhanced mobility, even in remote areas. Mitigation of global warming. The creation of new
regional employment opportunities can be the important cornerstones of any forward-looking
transportation system, for emerging economies. Using satellite remote sensing information, planners
and policy makers can make more effective decisions to ensure a stable supply of resources for
economic fuel, food and environmental security. (Cranfield University)

Feasibility for Jatropha Curcas Agriculture to Industry is reliant upon the adoption of a fully integrated
approach supported by both government and private sector intervention and investment. In well
planned agriculturally interesting research and development programs we see the best of Jatropha
Curcas L, up to 12 tons of seed per H/a have been recorded. Assumptions are made that are
completely irrelevant to the performance of the species in low nutrient, low water, harsh
environments. Certainly Jatropha Curcas L survives in the harshest of environments recovering to a
lush healthy state with the minimal of rain, irrigation or nutrient input. The species is disease resistant;
there are few insects or plant bug enemies while browsing animals are not tempted to feed on the
plant.

Evidence from direct participation with farmers and farming communities in Thailand suggests that the
vast majority of farm workers and land owners are poorly schooled in modern farming techniques.
The vast majority of land cultivation in Thailand is rice based mono cropping which is carried out
according to age old traditions supported by the excessive use of inorganic fertiliser. In fact, most
farming has derived productivity from the excessive use of inorganic pesticides and fertilisers,
imported at great expense into the Kingdom.

There can be no doubting the potentials of Jatropha Curcas L while it is essential to understand from
the outset of massive agricultural extension objectives that it is incorrect to promote ideology that this
species, planted in harsh environments and generally left to survive will produce bumper harvests of
seed in sufficient quantities to deliver feasibility for the agricultural communities and industrial
processes. Quite bluntly, this will not be the case. Minimal inputs, minimal management, minimal
attention to deliberate crop enhancement practices will lead to minimal sporadic harvest values that
are insufficient to justify the development of capital intensive industry processes or deliver interesting
incomes for farming communities.

Moving Jatropha Curcas L from its status as an underutilised high potential tree species into the
realms of highly productive seed oil harvest variety in support of multiple desirable outcomes, in terms
of excellent harvest values, promotion of organic farming, environmentally friendly soil erosion, land
repairer, improver of water table, precipitation enhancer, and valuable cultivated species, takes
ingenuity. It takes an all embracing end to end “Agriculture to Industry” solution that addresses the
needs of rural farming communities, large enterprise plantation investors, government agricultural
extension services, industry standards, fiscal polices, technology and industry synergy while most of
all embracing the interests of both national and international financial support.

9 
Department of Trade and Industry Dti United Kingdom 
Director of Trade and Investment British Embassy Bangkok 

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Director General Department of Alternative Energy And Efficiency
Royal Government of Thailand
DEMAND FOR BIO-DIESEL AND REQUIREMENT OF AREA FOR CULTIVATING JATROPHA
CURCAS FOR DIFFERENT BLENDING RATES IN THAILAND


Figure 1

2005-2011/12 Thailand Projections for Diesel Consumption and Bio Diesel requirement DEDE

National strategy for Jatropha Curcas

Strategy and Implementation Plan

All policies create winners and losers, including the existing policy environment in developed and
developing countries. The losers from the current global policy framework (with agricultural trade
badly distorted by rich countries subsidies, markets closed by rich and poor country barriers as well
as insufficient attention to the rural poor in developing countries) are the hungry and the poor.
The evidence is consistent and overwhelming that reducing distortions in agriculture, increasing
market access, and at the same time creating domestic policy environments that support agricultural
and rural areas will increase economic growth and alleviate poverty; in Thailand, in many developing
regions of the world.

Year
Diesel
Bio-diesel @ 5%
Bio-diesel @ 10%
Bio-diesel @ 20%
Demand (in
million
metric
Quantity (in
Area required
Quantity (in
Quantity (in
liquid
million metric
for bio-diesel
million metric
Area
million metric
Area
tonnes)
tones)
(in million
tonnes)
required for
tonnes)
required for
hectares)
bio-diesel (in
bio-diesel
million
(in million
hectares)
hectares)
2005-
46.00
2.35
1.96
4.70
3.92
9.39
7.84
06
2006-
49.56
2.48
2.07
4.96
4.14
9.91
8.28
07
2007-
60.33
2.62
2.19
5.23
4.38
10.47
8.76
09
2009-
85.90
3.35
2.79
6.69
5.58
13.38
11.19
12
 
The Millennium Development Goals and the Doha Development Round commit countries to reforming
their trade and domestic policies in agriculture. This commitment has been made by OECD countries,
which maintain high levels of agricultural subsidies and protection against commodities that are vital
to the economic well-being of developing countries.

10 
Department of Trade and Industry Dti United Kingdom 
Director of Trade and Investment British Embassy Bangkok 

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