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Jatropha curcas is the species currently being used in biofuels production. Like the other species of Jatropha, it is well-adapted to grow in arid and semi-arid conditions, and can be interplanted with other crops, so that farmers are not faced with growing either food or fuel, but can grow both simultaneously. One of the reasons its use in Senegal is being promoted is precisely because its cultivation does not squeeze out food production. Unlike corn or sugarcane, it does not require fertilizer. Neither does it require irrigation, so it can be planted on land unsuitable for food production. One more advantage: it is a perennial plant, so more of its seed production can go toward fuels, rather than replanting. It requires a semi-tropical or tropical temperature regime, so it is unsuitable for extensive use in temperate climates.
