Jatropha was one of the components of the 50/50 blend tested by airlines. As a fuel it works very well. However, to prove sustainability and secure much-prized accred­itation, growers need to be diligent — agriculturally, commercially, and socially.

The aviation industry will not buy fuel from a non-accredited source, because nothing less than fully certified fuel will gain exemption from carbon emission charges. To gain

accreditation, biofuel suppliers must show they have measured every aspect of carbon capture from day 1 of planting through to the aircraft’s fuel tanks. Growers must measure the entire carbon custody chain above and below ground, including har­vesting, transporting, and extracting the Jatropha oil, and refining into Bio-SPK.

A Jatropha plantation company should already produce large savings of green­house gas emissions before transport and refining. Over time, Jatropha plantations can absorb 40 tonnes of carbon per hectare annually. That, plus precise auditing and production techniques, is likely to boost savings up to around 88%, higher than IATA’s 80% target. At this level, biofuel is extremely attractive. If the airline uses an 88% certified fuel, it can prove it has cut its carbon dump by that amount and improve its image to its customers substantially.

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