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Producing Jatropha Biodiesel in China: Policies, Performance and Challenges

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Jatropha, Challenges for a New Energy Crop

Abstract

As in many countries, policy makers in China see the production of biofuel as an important strategy for energy independence and sustainable development. As a promising feedstock of second generation biodiesel,Jatropha curcasL. (JCL) is being massively planted on marginal land in China because the Chinese policy framework has provided a good opportunity for the promotion of JCL biodiesel and China has favorable conditions for JCL cultivation and relatively mature processing technology. However, despite its potential contribution to energy production and greenhouse gas emission reduction, the production of JCL biodiesel is facing many challenges, which are to be dealt with before JCL biodiesel is produced on a massive scale. It is suggested that more efforts be laid in designing policy package for JCL biodiesel production, especially incentive policies for producers, and making institutional arrangement for sustainable production and management.

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Acknowledgement

This research report is based on investigations funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (71063024) and the Economy and Environment Program for Southeast Asia (EEPSEA, No. 003591-180).

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Correspondence to Zanxin Wang .

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Wang, Z. (2012). Producing Jatropha Biodiesel in China: Policies, Performance and Challenges. In: Carels, N., Sujatha, M., Bahadur, B. (eds) Jatropha, Challenges for a New Energy Crop. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4806-8_6

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