Plant News Articles

Governments in Florida are encouraging struggling citrus and sugar farmers to grow Jatropha as a biofuel source. There is no doubt that Jatropha is well-suited for producing biofuels in Florida; it fits the state's environment, and its nuts are an excellent source of oil for biodiesel. The catch: it may be invasive in Florida. Roy Beckford, an extension agent for the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), says that Jatropha is not a significant threat to cause problems. “We’ve not seen any indication that Jatropha is invasive,” he said. Other supporters like the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services agree. Doria Gordon, who is director of conservation for The Nature Conservancy, a member of the IFAS invasive species working group, and a faculty member at the University of Florida, has done research that she says shows otherwise. The research adapts a testing tool already in use in Australia to determine the probability a species could be a damaging invasive here. She said the tool is found to be over 90 percent accurate in predicting damaging invasives, and says that Jatropha is one. “I looked at a number of biofuel species in Florida,” she said. “Jatropha was tested, and there was a high probability of it being an invasive in Florida.” One thing that seems almost certain is that the two sides won't come to an agreement easily. Florida Native Plant Society President Eugene Kelly said he’s heard supporters say Jatropha is not invasive and not dangerous. “I haven’t seen any evidence,” he said. “If they can show our fears are unfounded, so much the better.” Lee County Commission Chairman Ray Judah is a member of the Florida Native Plant Society. Judah said he’s convinced about Jatropha. “It’s already been looked into,” he said. “I’m steadfastly insisting it’s not an invasive.”