New Partnership To Accelerate Biofuel Development from Central American Native Plant

New Partnership Will Accelerate Biofuel Development from Central American Native Plant

By Craig Taylor
January 13, 2010

Jatropha Curcas is a non-edible shrub that is native to Central America. Its seeds contain high amounts of oil that can be used for a variety of bio-based materials including biodiesel and feedstock substitutes for the petrochemical and jet fuel industries.

SG Biofuel and Life Technologies Corporation have formed a strategic alliance to advance the development of Jatropha. “By combining our library of Jatropha DNA with the extensive genetic expertise and resources of Life Technologies, we have the opportunity to unlock the true potential of Jatropha as the most profitable and sustainable biofuel feedstock," said Kirk Haney, President and Chief Executive Officer of SG Biofuels. "Sequencing the genome will allow us to rapidly develop region-specific cultivars from the promising traits we've already identified.”

The partnership will initially include sequencing the Jathropa Curcas genome, allowing for the rapid introduction of new traits targeted toward increasing the yield of the oil-producing plant.

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