Nice picture of a jatropha harvesting machine,,, near bottom.

''Is the Jatropha plant the Yucatan’s “New” Green Gold?
This is the Jatropha plant, (scientific name, Jatropha curcas)is a species of flowering plant in the spurge family (scientific name, Euphorbiaceae), native to the Mexico and Central America. It is cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions throughout the world. It is a small tree, reaching a height of 20 feet, about 6 meters. It is resistant to a high degree of aridity, allowing it to be grown in deserts. The seeds contain 27-40% oil that is today processed to produce a high-quality biodiesel fuel, usable in a standard diesel engines.

John will also share with us what he has learned about the biofuels industry in general and how the Yucatan is now emerging as an ideal location for growing the necessary crops. This is not news, of course, and in fact, national (Mexican) and international (U.S. and European) companies have already set up farms here ready to service this growing industry. With the right investment and support, biofuel production could become a major industry in the Yucatan and provide a wealth of benefits.
And what crop is this? It’s not henequen, but the Jatropha plant

''Multinational agricultural companies are beginning to realize that the Jatropha can become the “New Green Gold” for the Yucatan – and with multimillion dollar investments.

Why? Because biofuels are no longer a dream for a greener tomorrow. Imagine that bus rumbling past you in Centro running on used cooking oil discarded by local restaurants, or on oil from crops grown on a nearby farm! This would not only be better for our environment, but there would be huge financial savings for the bus company. And for the people of Merida, there would be far fewer toxins for us to inhale, provide ample job opportunities for the local Maya communities throughout the peninsula, and create an income source that is sustainable for the region’s economy.

Crops like Jatropha can be the “New Green Gold” for the Yucatan – a second act, from 19th century to 21st century.

In Belize, Global Clean Energy, an international company, is already cultivating Jatropha plants, and processing the seeds into biofuels. This is the ideal model for large-scale operations in the Yucatan.
This represents a unique opportunity for the Yucatan peninsula and its peoples.''

http://www.casa-catherwood.com/rogers/biofuelsbiocombustibles.html

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