Jatropha has great potential to save greenhouse gases

The threshold of 35% greenhouse gas (GHG) savings for biofuels by the European Union is easily met by Jatropha. These are the findings of an independent report by sustainability consultants Partners for Innovation. The study commissioned by the Jatropha Alliance and Sun Biofuels demonstrates that even using very conservative assumptions on yields and other parameters, Sun Biofuels Mozambique is saving 39% of GHG compared to fossil fuels if the Jatropha biodiesel is produced in the UK. The now published GHG report also highlights the potential of Jatropha biodiesel to achieve a GHG saving of up to 73%.

In the context of a sustainability assessment on Jatropha biofuels in Mozambique the Jatropha Alliance commissioned Partners for Innovation to conduct an independent greenhouse gas life cycle calculation for Sun Biofuels Mozambique SA. The outcomes of these calculations have been independently reviewed by Robert Bailis, assistant professor at Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, and Ignacio Pérez Domínguez from LEI Agricultural Economic Research in the Netherlands.

The amount of GHG savings achieved by Jatropha mainly depend on three factors: seed yield, oil yield and nitrogen fertilizer. A conservative base case scenario for locally produced Jatropha biodiesel assuming a seed yield of 3 tons of seeds per hectare, an oil yield of 0.24 tons of oil per ton of seed, and 44 kg of nitrogen fertilizer per ha per year already allows for 39% of GHG savings compared to fossil fuels. In case the biodiesel is used locally, this value goes up to 48%. Sun Biofuels Mozambique is targeting seed yield of 6t/ha/year, this raises the GHG savings to 65%. However the most influencing factor is nitrogen fertilizer. If Sun Biofuels Mozambique achieves to completely substitute nitrogen fertilizers by organic fertilizer (e.g. Jatropha seed cake) the GHG saving balance could go up to 73%.

The authors have also calculated the impact of land use change on GHG savings by using the default values from the European Commission. Sun Biofuels Mozambique cultivates perennial Jatropha on former annual cropland, thereby realizing significant GHG saving potential of 380%. This is due to the fact that trees are planted in place of idle land or perennial crops ‘fixing’ carbon in an additional CO2 sink.

The encouraging GHG savings of Jatropha make it an ideal source for biofuels for the aviation industry, who are pushing hard to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

For further information please see the original press release here

Business Matchmaking Compiles Results of Jatropha Biofuels Airline Tests

Los Angeles—Business Matchmaking, Inc. has compiled the results of multiple airline tests of oil from the little known non-edible plant Jatropha as a potential substitute for traditional jet fuel with impressive results.

The non-profit company specializes in matching small firms with government agencies and major corporations.

Japan Airlines, Air New Zealand, Continental, Brazil's TAM Airlines and most recently the Mexican carrier Interjet, in cooperation with European manufacturer Airbus, were hosts of successful tests and flights relying upon fuel from weed-like Jatropha which grows on land otherwise unusable for farming.

A March 31, 2011 comprehensive report by Yale's School of Environmental Studies, funded by Boeing, concluded that "Jatropha can deliver strong environmental and socioeconomic benefits."

The Yale Study used sustainability criteria developed by the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels in evaluating actual farming conditions.

Mission NewEnergy, Limited, the largest producer of Jatropha by acreage planted, currently employs more than 140,000 formerly impoverished farmers in India now earning a living cultivating Jatropha without compromising food supply or food pricing.

The company is currently distributing product in Europe, and launching its US operations.

James Garton, president of Mission NewEnergy USA said, "We are particularly pleased to learn of repeated testing of Jatropha in aviation with positive results.

"With the unprecedented challenges facing the airlines as a result of the constant increase in the price of jet fuel, and the global need to accept sustainability as a key to environmental responsibility, the Jatropha solution is timely and efficient."

In addition to civilian aviation, there are studies underway by the military with regard to Jatropha oil.

Major General Wilbert Pearson (USAF-Ret), now Chairman of Mission NewEnergy's Advisory Board, concluded that "the military has a huge and continuing need for efficient and affordable fuel and Jatropha appears to meet those standards while also meeting environmental demands."

The United Nation's International Civil Aviation Organization has established the goal of reducing aviation-related carbon-dioxide emissions and the use of renewable fuels.

At one point, there was speculation that Ethanol might be appropriate for airplane use, but since it freezes at relatively low altitudes, it is deemed unacceptable for flight.

The Yale study projected greenhouse gas reductions of up to 60 percent from Jatropha-based fuel compared to petroleum-based jet fuel.

For more information, visit http://www.businessmatchmaking.com/ and the biofuels journal

Bungalows at Carara National Eco Lodge

Bungalow designs for the Carara National Eco Lodge at NatureWalk are almost complete.

Carara National Eco Lodge will be a condo hotel and investors can own condos and bungalows within the hotel complex.

To read more click here

See some of the pre-launch designs below.

For more information on the Bungalows at Carara National Eco Lodge send an e mail to info@costaricainvest.ie

Helix Medical to Build new manufacturing facility in Costa Rica

Helix Medical, LLC, a global manufacturer for the medical device and healthcare industries, will soon begin construction on a new medical manufacturing facility in Costa Rica. Helix Medical signed a leasing agreement in The Coyol Free Trade Zone and Business Park in Alajuela, Costa Rica, just outside of San Jose. The company will invest more than $4M in the new plant that will soon employ more than 100 people. Helix Medical expects this new facility to begin production in the first quarter of 2012.

“We chose Costa Rica to be close to our customers in Latin America,” said Andy Becker, Vice President and General Manager,Carpinteria and Costa Rica at Helix Medical, LLC. ”The country offers a large medical device community with a skilled workforce as well as a good reputation for security and infrastructure.”

Helix Medical Costa Rica will offer contract manufacturing services which include silicone extrusion, silicone molding, thermoplastic molding, and assembly operations. Additionally, the facility will be ISO 13485 certified with Class 7 & 8 cleanrooms.

About Helix Medical, LLC

Helix Medical, a division of the Freudenberg Group, is a global custom manufacturer for the medical device, pharmaceutical, biotech, and IVD industries with six manufacturing operations worldwide. Medical manufacturing capabilities include silicone and thermoplastic molding and extrusions, complex catheter systems, assembly, packaging, and engineering services. Helix Medical operates an FDA-registered medical device facility, certified ISO 13485 with Class 7 & 8 cleanrooms. Established in 1984 and headquartered in Carpinteria, California, Helix Medical currently manufactures in California, Massachusetts,Germany, Ireland, and China.

NatureWalk Infinity Series Homes

Costa Rica to launch Carbon Neutral Coffee

The Coffee Cooperative of Dota (Coopedota) announced that it has achieved carbon neutrality certification for its green and roasted coffee beans. This is the first time that coffee production has been certified as carbon neutral.


Coopedota, a cooperative of 800 coffee farmers from Costa Rica’s Dota valley, certified its coffee to the British Standards Institution’s PAS2060 specification for demonstrating carbon neutrality. Since its publication last year, PAS2060 has been recognized by experts as the most credible international certification standard for carbon neutrality.


As part of the certification process, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the life cycle of the product (production, transport and sale) were reduced and offset to result in zero net emissions. Many carbon neutrality certifications focus on point-source, as opposed to life-cycle emissions.


Dota valley’s coffee is considered one of the world’s finest. It is sold by quality- and sustainability-conscious retailers in Europe, North America and Asia. Coopedota also sells a limited amount in the high-end local market.


In February, Lonely Planet ranked Coopedota’s coffee shop as one of the top ten places to drink coffee in the world.


Michael Phillips, 2010 World Barista Champion, trained at Coopedota and used its coffees during the World Barista Championship in London. “Indeed, we are famous for our coffee’s high quality, but lately our customers value our sustainability practices as well,” says Coopedota’s general manager, Roberto Mata.


Coopedota’s environmental efforts appear to track the global climate negotiations. The coop began reducing GHG emissions in 1998, immediately after the Kyoto Protocol was adopted. That year, the coop reduced 40% of its processing plant energy consumption and eliminated wastewater discharges to the local river.

In 2009, spurred by the media attention around the Copenhagen climate summit, Coopedota set an ambitious target on achieving net zero GHG emissions. Over the past 18 months, they have worked with consultants from EARTH University, Peace Corp personnel and even graduate students from Yale University to measure its carbon footprint and establish a carbon strategy.

Hortensia Solis, the coop’s sustainability manager, participated in the Costa Rican delegation at the UN’s climate summit COP16 in Cancun, Mexico to learn more about climate change and its linkage with agriculture.

It’s no secret why Coopedota has taken this bold step. “Climate-smart coffee is about our bottom line and our continued existence,” says Ms. Solis. “The market for low carbon products will grow as consumer’s worry more about climate change”, says Ms. Solis. “We want to capture the value for sustainable purchases and pass it on to our farmers, many of whom have been affected by climate events.”

In November, Dota valley was affected by some of the country’s worst flooding in decades. “We have to be better prepared for future events.” Weather-related events across global coffee growing regions have been a factor in this year’s low coffee supply.

On March 10th, global coffee prices spiked to 34-year highs, going above US$300 per quintal, said Mr. Mata.

According to Ronald Peters, head the Costa Rican coffee grower’s Institution (ICAFE), the industry should replicate Coopedota’s efforts. “This carbon neutrality certification gives us a sense that we as an industry can contribute more towards creating a low-carbon economy in Costa Rica.”

The coffee sector accounted for roughly 10% of Costa Rica’s national emissions in 2005. Most of these emissions arise from the use of nitrogen based fertilizers.
In 2007, Costa Rica announced that it would become carbon neutral by the year 2021, the 200th anniversary of its independence.

Carbon Clear, a other party-verifier, was selected to conduct the certification because of its international reach and distinguished client list including the EuroStar, PwC and Hyatt Hotels.


To Read More visit the Coopedota Site at http://www.coopedota.com/

Webinar - Is Costa Rica a good investment opportunity?

The nest webinar in our webinar series is on Thursday 10th March at 1pm Eastern USA time.

To read more click on the button below:

Title: Is Costa Rica a Good Investment Opportunity?
Date: 10th March 2011
Time: 1pm Eastern USA (6:oopm UK)
Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/725701931