Newsletter 03/09 August 29, 2009
Dear Reader, with this third newsletter, we inform the Jatropha community about our current activities and upcoming events in the Jatropha industry. Please note that some of the contents we will announce in this newsletter will only be available to members of the Jatropha Alliance. For more information, please visit our website at www.jatropha-alliance.org.				UPCOMING JATROPHA EVENTS   7 October  2009             Mexico City, Mexico     26 October - 29 October 2009     Accra, Ghana        Latest News   21 August - Daily Finance Putting veggies on the front line: U.S. Navy seeks biofuels for jets   19 August - energy risk Biofuels industry to triple in size by 2020   13 August - Reuters Africa Egypt to cultivate jatropha plant for biofuels
1. Successful Tender to the Global Biomass Fund
The Jatropha Alliance is very pleased to inform you that our tender to the Global Biomass Fund of the Dutch development agency Senter Novem has been successful. Our project "Towards Sustainability Certification of Jatropha Biofuels in Mozambique" is a great chance to proof that Jatropha can be produced in a sustainable manner.  Mozambique is a key area of the Global Biomass Fund, therefore we will conduct this project with our partners on the ground: Sun Biofuels Mozambique SA, Elaion Africa Lda., Agro Pecuaria de Manica (Green Power). The project aim is to build up knowledge for future certification of Jatropha biofuels through a benchmark sustainability assessment using existing sustainability criteria frameworks like Cramer, the principles of the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels and the EU Renewable Energy Directive. After having assessed this comprehensive sustainable criteria in the three plantations the results will be fed back into the forums that work on the development of the sustainability frameworks. This project is the first attempt to operationalise sustainability criteria and testing them in Jatropha plantations. Soon after the start of this one year project in October we will report the development on our website.
2. Review of one-sided Jatropha Study from Swiss Aid
Swiss Aid recently published the very negative and one-sided study "Jatropha! A socio-econmomic pitfall for Mozambique" prepared by Justiça Ambiental (JA) and União Nacional de Camponeses (UNAC). Besides lacking scientific scrutiny the study critizes claims that had never been made by serious actors within the Jatropha sector. Furthermore the study highlights inaccurate arguments reflecting just the negative aspects of Jatropha. The picture shown about Jatropha in Mozambique in this study is not complete and false to a large extent. The Jatropha Alliance felt obliged to answer this study with a review analyzing the arguments put forward by the authors of the Swiss Aid Study. The complete review of the Swiss Aid Study is available under "News & Press" on the Jatropha Alliance website or directly here: Review Swiss Aid Study
3. Special on Water Usage of Jatropha
Alarmed by reports stating that Jatropha needs five times more water than other feedstocks, the Jatropha Alliance has estabilshed a Special: Water Usage of Jatropha on the website. This rubric will display current research reports and articles about the water consumption of Jatropha and will be constantly extended. We are endeavoured to provide a precise picture about this issue. Therefore we have also added the very negative Water Footprint Bioenergy article, although we doubt the methodology used. The Jatropha Alliance is convinced of the sustainable potential of Jatropha and aims for a positive image of Jatropha. Discussions with the authors of the study as well as with other scientists conveyed the impression that the methodology of the water foot print study is imprecise. If you aware of any research papers dealing explicitly with the water consumption of Jatropha feel free to contact us at info@jatropha-alliance.org 4. Biofuel Markets Mexico & Central America and Bioenergy Markets West Africa The Biofuel Markets Mexico & Central America, which takes place in Mexico City on the 7 October 2009, provides an excellent opportunity to learn about the great biofuel potential in these countries. Legislative support for biofuels has recently being confirmed in Mexico by passing the "Biofuels Promotion and Development Law". Government officials speaking at this event will outline impact of a proposed blending mandate and discuss foreign investment options encouraged by new regulations.   Later in October, the Bioenergy Markets West Africa will take place in Accra, Ghana from 26 October - 29 October 2009. This events aims for pushing the sustainable biopower, biogas & biofuels development in West Africa. Amongst others Thilo Zelt, president of the Jatropha Alliance will speak at this event. For more information about this event please also find the brochure attached. Members of the Jatropha Alliance receive a special discount of 20 %. The online discount code is available upon request.
We are looking forward to your feedback under info@jatropha-alliance.org.
Very best wishes,
Thilo Zelt President  Jatropha Alliance		Dr. Andreas Renner  Treasurer  Jatropha Alliance
The Jatropha Alliance is the representation of the Jatropha industry. Its aims are to promote the sustainable cultivation of Jatropha as a second generation feedstock for biofuels, to promote Jatropha in the public discussion about biofuels, to represent the industry in political and stakeholder processes and to provide services to its members. More information and application forms for members can be found under www.jatropha-alliance.org.
This newsletter is mailed several times during the year. If you would rather not receive future editions, please send an email to: info@jatropha-alliance.org
Jatropha Alliance Phone:            +49 (0) 30 4000 476 40	Office Berlin  c/o GEXSI Am Festungsgraben 1 D-10117 Berlin, Germany		info@jatropha-alliance.org www.jatropha-alliance.org