David Walmsley

Insights into Jatropha Projects Worldwide - Key Facts & Figures from a Global Survey

The objective of this survey of oilseed production from Jatropha and other oilseed-bearing perennials is to contribute by establishing an up-to-date overview based on interviews with producers and industry experts in 2011. This survey of 154 projects yielded a comprehensive database that covers critical aspects such as agronomic settings, agricultural practices, yields, business activities and financing as well as sustainability management. This summary of key facts and figures provides an overview of the 111 commercial Jatropha plantations found to be operational at the time of the survey in mid-2011. It presents key agronomic and economic data points from this sample. The report targets a wide range of stakeholders in governmental and non-governmental organisations, academia, as well as businesses and investors.

Sustainable plant oil production for aviation fuels

Purpose – This article seeks to address aviation as an emerging biofuel consumer and to discuss sustainability issues and consequences for feedstock production concepts. Biojet fuels have been identified as a promising, readily deployable alternative to fossil‐based aviation fuels. At the same time they are highly criticised as their production may have negative social and environmental impacts. Therefore, the paper aims to identify major sustainability issues and assessment challenges and relate these to the production of biojet fuel feedstock.Design/methodology/approach – Two plant oil production concepts are presented that address the sustainability issues discussed. Both concepts are being investigated within the research project “Platform for Sustainable Aviation Fuels”. A literature‐based overview of sustainability issues and assessment challenges is provided. Additionally, conceptual insights into new plant oil production concepts are presented.Findings – The use of biojet fuels is often hailed as ...

The Agrodiversity Experiment: three years of data from a multisite study in intensively managed grasslands

Kirwan, L., Connolly, J., Brophy, C., Baadshaug, O. H., Belanger, G., Black, A., Carnus, T., Collins, R. P., Cop, J., Delgado, I., De Vliegher, A., Elgersma, A., Frankow-Lindberg, B. E., Golinski, P., Grieu, P., Gustavsson, A., Helgadottir, A., Hoglind, M., Huguenin-elie, O., Jorgensen, M., Kadziuliene, Z., Lunnan, T., Luscher, A., Kurki, P., Porqueddu, C., Sebastia, M. T., Thumm, U., Walmsley, D. & Finn, J. A. (2014). The Agrodiversity Experiment: three years of data from a multisite study in intensively managed grasslands. Ecology, 95 (9), [2680]

The Agrodiversity Experiment: three years of data from a multisite study in intensively managed grasslands Ecological Archives

Kirwan, L., Connolly, J., Brophy, C., Baadshaug, O. H., Belanger, G., Black, A., Carnus, T., Collins, R. P., Cop, J., Delgado, I., De Vliegher, A., Elgersma, A., Frankow-Lindberg, B. E., Golinski, P., Grieu, P., Gustavsson, A., Helgadottir, A., Hoglind, M., Huguenin-elie, O., Jorgensen, M., Kadziuliene, Z., Lunnan, T., Luscher, A., Kurki, P., Porqueddu, C., Sebastia, M. T., Thumm, U., Walmsley, D. & Finn, J. A. (2014). The Agrodiversity Experiment: three years of data from a multisite study in intensively managed grasslands. Ecology, 95 (9), [2680]

A Global Synthesis of Jatropha Cultivation: Insights into Land Use Change and Management Practices

Despite setbacks, interest in Jatropha cultivation remains high. This study addressed the question to what extent Jatropha cultivation has replaced specific vegetation and land use types and how the existing areas are managed. Major forms of land use change and management practices were identified based on cluster analysis of data from 106 interviewees responses to a comprehensive global survey. Of the 1.04 × 10(6) ha cultivated with Jatropha in 2011 40% were established on land that was cleared of vegetation as a result of logging activities unrelated to Jatropha cultivation, 34% was defined as unused, and the remainder was attributable to areas previously used for crops or animal husbandry. With the exception of croplands, these areas were dominated (90-98%) by a few internationally active companies whose cultivation models were almost exclusively based on outgrower schemes. Management practices were largely extensive in nature (low mechanical input and infrequent use of fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides), and also dominated by large projects. Broad surveys, such as this, are useful in identifying general trends in this emerging global industry, but detailed case studies, particularly of large projects, are needed in order to draw more informed conclusions about the site-specific impacts of Jatropha cultivation.