Aug 7 2010
SG Biofuels, Inc., a bioenergy crop firm that focuses on the production and development of elite Jatropha seeds, has announced plans for establishing the most advanced center in the world for the research and development of Jatropha situated in San Diego, California.
The center will be including a greenhouse with an area of 42,000 sq. ft. while featuring the most diverse and the largest Jatropha genetic material collection, top-class lab facilities along with a molecular biologists team that has its focus on developing Jatropha as a sustainable, low-cost source of oil.
The greenhouse space is likely to accommodate the Jatropha genetic resources of the company that comprise over 6,000 unique genotypes along with Jatropha genetic traits array including traits essential for enhanced fruit yield, improved harvesting and soil adaptation, all of these features help in increasing profitability of crops per acre.
Native to Central America, the Jatropha curcas is an undomesticated shrub. Jatropha seeds contain huge quantities of top quality oil. The jet fuel and petrochemical industries can make use of the Jatropha oil produced in a sustainable manner.