MUST DO LINK HERE

SciFlies to attract citizen donors, promote research: "The SciFlies Network makes it possible for citizen donors to select a scientist and a research project and make a direct donation to that scientist's work. Donors will likely fund projects that have special meaning for them, whether it is cancer research, environmental research, or research on a promising engineering technology.

'The SciFlies Network provides a new funding source for research and innovation and, in doing so, offers citizens interested in advancing science and technology a personal and tangible way to do so,' said David Fries, president of the nonprofit SciFlies Network initiative and a member of the National Academy of Inventors . 'When citizen microdonors feel they can directly accelerate science, technology, discovery and innovation, there is a sense of ownership that may not come with the traditional public science funding mechanisms that have been around for a long time.'

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Fw: Green Educators See on Monday at 9 AM

SO the new century is beginning again each moment...

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Sharon Joy Kleitsch <kleitsch@verizon.net>
To: Sharon Joy Kleitsch <kleitsch@verizon.net>
Sent: Sat, December 11, 2010 1:08:52 PM
Subject: Green Educators See on Monday at 9 AM

We look forward to seeing you Monday. Starting at 9, there will be an opportunity to meet other Tampa Bay sustainability educators. The scheduled program will begin at 9:30, ending at noon.

PLEASE BRING ANY MATERIALS you would like to share.

        The Corporate Training Center @ HCC

        39 Columbia Drive

        Tampa, FL 33606

Directions:  http://www.tampatraining.com/information/directions.cfm

    Take Kennedy (Highway 60) to S Hyde Park Avenue, across from the University of Tampa, and go south.

    You will cross over the bridge onto Davis Island. Stay to the right.

    After you get onto the island, take the first left at Arbor Place (look for a four-story yellow building on the left side of Davis Blvd).

    The ACT Center is in a single-story building at the intersection of Columbia Dr. and Arbor Place. It is next to the eight-story Hillsborough Community College Administration building.

Parking: Park in the TCTC/HCC Only parking lot north of the single-story building. An access gate controls entry to the parking lot.

    At the keypad, please enter 1060* (the character following the numbers is a star) to access the control gate.

Enter the building, turn left to the room on the right at the end of the hall overlooking the water.

Sharon Joy Kleitsch

The Connection Partners, Inc

    - linking people, resources and ideas
St Petersburg FL 33701-1448
kleitsch@verizon.net

Emergy

The term 'Emergy' was originally coined by David M. Scienceman in collaboration with the late Howard T. Odum. H.T.Odum used 'emergy' to mean both ''sequestered'' energy and ''emergent property of energy use''. However Scienceman also used the term 'emergy' to refer to the concept of ''energy memory'', a concept which motivated Scienceman and B.M. El-Youssef (1993) to propose the addition of a new dimension to physics, [P] for "past". Some researchers maintain that it can be expressed as a scientific unit which is called the "emjoule", a contraction of "''em''ergy joule".

Historical development

As a word, 'emergy' is a simple contraction of the term "'em'bodied en'ergy'". The need for the new word of "emergy" arose apparently because of an important difference in the way the two related disciplines of systems ecology and energy analysis were using the term "embodied energy". As H.T.Odum (1984, p.189) observed "There is more than one type of embodied energy". Various authors have struggled to clarify their usage, and ambiguity seems to continue in the literature to this day.

Prior to 1986, both systems ecologists and energy analysts used "embodied energy" to refer to the sum over time of all energy of one type required to generate a flow of energy (H.T.Odum and E.C.Odum 1983, p. 13). Energy embodied in water was also defined in this way as the energy required directly and indirectly to generate the flow in processes of the biosphere or a typical desalination plant for example (Wang et al. 1980, p. 201).

However unlike energy analysts, systems ecologists were, and continue to be also interested in the relationship of structure and function of ecological systems (E.P. Odum 1962), together with the biophysical properties that afford plants the ability to accumulate and transform radient energy into a structural form useable by other organisms (E.N. Transeau 1926). Scienceman (1987, p.260) observed this difference noting that the systems ecologist H.T. Odum had introduced an additional factor into the definition of embodied energy:

The term "embodied energy" was therefore also used by systems ecologists to describe the energy that had been used in, and accumulated into structure-development (Odum 1970, p.62) and which could be fed back into the system to draw in more energy (J.R. Richardson 1988, p. 18). This structural-cybernetic aspect of ecosystem research (Patten 1959, Patten and E.P.Odum 1981) was apparently not included in the energy-analytic definition of "embodied energy".

However the fact that both systems ecologists and energy analysts used the same term but with different levels of content seems to have led to considerable confusion.

three planets will go direct

Zest2Zeal : Message: Fw: [NMBeing] NMB #175 - SCORPIO - DEATH AND REBIRTH: "Venus and Jupiter Turn Direct - November 18

An intensification of energy happens when a planet turns retrograde or direct. Like a focalized beam, the energy associated with the planet and the zodiac archetype penetrates into our collective and individual consciousness. Soon three planets will go direct, during which time their energies will act as spot lights to beam truth into our consciousness.

Both Venus (was in Scorpio, now at 28 degrees Libra) and Jupiter (in Pisces) go direct November 18. Mark November 17-19 on your calendar and be aware of what you feel. Do you feel clearer, more ready to move forward, more honest about what you really want, more connected to your heart? Do you feel more optimistic, more hopeful, less afraid, more courageous? Something has shifted inside you. What is it? This is part of your rebirth and recalibration process. Stay tuned to yourself. Another awakening is scheduled when Uranus in Pisces goes direct December 5.

Mercury Retrograde - December 10-30

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Thank You Jesus Christ for Creating The Way of Your Word!

What

I I Love You Dearest Loving Lord Jesus Christ.

Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond by Brad Lancaster

Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond by Brad Lancaster: "Turn water scarcity into water abundance!

The wasteful path to scarcity. The site rapidly dehydrates itself by erosively draining rainwater and runoff away to flood downslope areas and contaminate surface water with sediment. Greywater is lost to the sewer. Costly municipal or well water is pumped in to replace the free water that was drained away. Leaf drop/mulch is also drained away further depleting fertility and water-holding capacity. This leads to a depletion of resources and feeling scared in the city due to the resulting scarcity.

The stewardship path to abundance. This site passively hydrates itself by harvesting and infiltrating rainwater, runoff, and greywater on site, reducing downslope flooding and overall water consumption and contamination. The need to pump in water is greatly reduced or eliminated. Leaf drop/mulch is also harvested and cycled back into the soil and plants further increasing fertility and water-holding capacity. This leads to an enhancement of resources and a bun dance of celebration due to the resulting abundance.

Sustainable Farming: permaculture

Sustainable Farming: permaculture: "Lend-A-Hand India, a US based non-profit founded by young Indians, has trained over 10,000 students in rural India in various trade skills. They are now developing a course in sustainable rural development based on permaculture principles.

I'm working on this project along with an international group of permaculture experts. The course will be designed to empower these rural students to help their communities meet their food, water, and shelter needs sustainably. Training in permaculture based farm design, water harvesting, waste management, locally appropriate building design and construction, and community action will enable better use of local resources, improved self-reliance, and rehabilitation natural ecosystems.

Please visit the project web page to donate to this project. Since Lend-A-Hand India is a registered non-profit under section 501(c)(3), your donation will be tax deductible!

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SWMM 5 or 5.0 Blog: 10/10/10 - 10/17/10

SWMM 5 or 5.0 Blog: 10/10/10 - 10/17/10: "MWH Soft Releases InfoSWMM 2D Version 2.0 for ArcGIS 10, Raising Bar for Urban Drainage Modeling and Simulation
Latest Release Solidifies Product as Leading GIS-centric Urban Drainage Modeling and Management Solution, Broomfield, Colorado USA, October 12, 2010

MWH Soft, a leading global innovator of wet infrastructure modeling and simulation software and technologies, today announced the worldwide availability of the V2.0 Generation of its industry-leading InfoSWMM 2D for ArcGIS 10 (Esri, Redlands, CA). InfoSWMM 2D delivers new ways to quickly build and analyze very large and comprehensive two-dimensional (2D) models that reliably simulate urban stormwater, sanitary sewers, river flooding and pollutant transport. It allows users to accurately predict the extent and duration of urban and rural flooding for comprehensive stormwater management directly within the powerful ArcGIS environment.

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Current News - University of South Florida

Current News - University of South Florida:

Genshaft Calls for "USF Innovation Zone"

The Innovation Zone would include a “university city” encompassing the Tampa Bay region.

By Peter E. Howard

USF.edu Digital News Editor

Editor's Note: To watch a repeat of USF President Judy Genshaft's Fall Address on UStream, including a 30 minute hosted pre-show, click here for the link.

To view the "first responder" video about the College of Marine Science's reponse to the Gulf oil spill, click here for the link.

TAMPA, Fla. (Oct. 6, 2010) – University of South Florida President Judy Genshaft Wednesday called for the creation of a “USF Innovation Zone” during the next decade that will foster new ideas, place laser focus on the future and heighten community engagement in the Tampa Bay region.

“This innovation zone won’t be just one place,” Genshaft said in her Fall Address. “New technology, cutting edge technology, will remove geographic boundaries. It will bring tomorrow’s ideas to life today.”

Speaking from the Oval Theater in the Marshall Student Center, Genshaft said the “Innovation Zone” will include a “university city” concept in the Tampa Bay region “that gives a new dimension to community engagement.” Incubators will be established at the university’s campuses in St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and Lakeland.

“Most importantly, it will lead the country, it will help people, it will focus on the future,” Genshaft said. “I invite you to think of ways to speed up these dreams as we create the next decade together. To use the metaphor from sustainability, you too can plug into innovation.”

More than 250 people attended the afternoon event. And for the first time, the president’s Fall Address was streamed live on the USF Facebook page. The Facebook broadcast was preceded by a 30-minute pre-show hosted by USF senior Amy Mariani, who asked attendees about their dreams and vision as the university heads toward 2020.

Genshaft also introduced Kala Vairavamoorthy, the new director of the School of Global Sustainability and an expert in urban water systems, and Les Miller, the new director of Heart Health at USF and an expert in new therapies for a failing heart. Both spoke briefly about their vision for the next decade.

The address took place during an especially active period for the university and in the midst of Homecoming Week celebrations. The university’s ResearchOne event kicks off next week, featuring a look into the ongoing science, research and innovation at the university.

And, since the Deepwater Horizon oil drilling platform exploded in the Gulf of Mexico in April, causing a massive oil spill, scientists and researchers at the College of Marine Science and other USF colleges have been at the forefront of tracking the spill and assessing its potential environmental damage. A documentary about the College of Marine Science and its response to the spill was shown to the audience. Watch the documentary by clicking here.

Genshaft spoke about USF during the past decade and how it has made great strides to improve its depth and energy and is firmly “relevant, engaged and involved.”

“Whether it’s the need for new models of education, or a crisis or a disease, we have been there,” she said. “As a result, this time period was astonishing for the entire University of South Florida System.”

The university, Genshaft recounted, has been “first responders” when our nation is in need, from robots that combed the wreckage of the World Trade Center towers on 9-11 to USF training frontline responders to biological attacks.

“These are powerful stories and a powerful record,” she said. “In the world of universities, you are the first responders.”

With the creation of new schools and centers, and a growing international presence, USF continues to lead and position itself well on the global landscape, Genshaft said.

“I’ve been saying that creating sustainable and healthy communities is the equivalent of the Space Race for the 21^st Century. And, in every corner, I see the USF System stepping to the front line. And I applaud all of you.”

Peter E. Howard can be reached at 813-974-9057.

GRAHAM V. JOHN DEERE CO., 383 U. S. 1 :: Volume 383 :: 1966 :: Full Text :: US Supreme Court Cases from Justia & Oyez

GRAHAM V. JOHN DEERE CO., 383 U. S. 1 :: Volume 383 :: 1966 :: Full Text :: US Supreme Court Cases from Justia & Oyez: "Under § 103, the scope and content of the prior art are to be determined; differences between the prior art and the claims at issue are to be ascertained; and the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art resolved."

training

STARS leasing the empty house for $1/month.  STARS covers all expenses and repairs while retaining all patent/copyrights for everything built - while repairs remain in the house.

Training Panama kids to design and manage the property and resources by solving the problems of repair and rebuilding with only local available resources... including

1. local survey evaluation
2. contracts for proporty equipment and resources
3. managing teams of people
4. designs, permits, funding, purchasing, salvaging through training to build, manage, repair and maintain patents and facilities.
5. design life cycles:

• water system collection, cleaning, recycling and processing
• food productions
• energy productions
• waste cleaning and recycling
• training education
• managing, leading, 
• funding, accounting, business and development

United States Patent Application: 0100058843

United States Patent Application: 0100058843: "SELF-PROPELLED SENSOR APPARATUS FOR IN SITU ANALYSIS OF ENVIROMENTAL PARAMETERS

Abstract

A submersible, self-propelled apparatus for analyzing a component contained in a liquid medium. The submersible, self-propelled apparatus uses kinetic energy of the apparatus to drive a liquid under analysis through the apparatus. This is accomplished by use of a conveyance system that is attached to the analytical system of the apparatus. A sensor system is used to analyze the component collected within the confines of an analysis chamber, a part of the analysis system. The invention also includes a method of using the analytical apparatus.

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and more and more and more!!!!

Our science strategy

Our science strategy

Anew three-year science strategy aims to keep the RHS at the forefront of gardening research. We have identified five new environmental programmes to achieve this.

1. Encouraging biodiversity in gardens

The RHS regards gardens as being of increasing importance as havens for wildlife and intends to help gardeners maximise the biodiversity benefits of their gardens.

2. Gardening in a changing climate

The RHS recognises garden plants and the pests and diseases that attack them will all be affected by climate change, and intends to help gardeners by advising them on how to cope.

3. Conserving the genetic diversity of cultivated plants

The RHS believes that plants with characteristics that are likely to aid sustainability in the future, for example drought tolerance or disease resistance, should be conserved for future generations and intends to work with others to facilitate this.

4. Managing resource use in gardens

The RHS recognises that careful stewardship of resources like energy, water and land will become increasingly important with a growing population and changing climate and the RHS will manage its gardens and tailor its advisory functions appropriately.

5. Advancing plants and gardens for urban sustainability

The RHS believes that there are significant benefits to be derived from the presence of plants and gardens in urban environments, particularly as our changing climate is likely to make urban areas increasingly inhospitable.

More on the science strategy

National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing

Products & Resources » For Parents »Articles/Presentations from CRESST Staff The articles and Web sites below contain assessment information for parents of K-12 age children. Articles/Presentations from CRESST Staff Articles & Websites Articles/Presentations from CRESST Staff A Primer on Accountability  Joan Herman and Ron Dietel Achievement Gaps in Our Schools  Ron Dietel Testing Students with Disabilities  Ron Dietel Helping your Child Succeed in School  Ron Dietel, Tracy Hughes, Cynthia Keech, and Karen Mathison Helping your Child Perform Well on Tests  Ron Dietel What Makes a Good School?  Eva Baker, Joan Herman, and Josie Bain, 1994 How Is My Child Doing in School? - Ten research-based ways to find out  Ron Dietel The Challenges of Assessing Young Children Appropriately  Lorrie A. Shepard

Products & Resources » Guidebooks 

In easy to understand language, CRESST guidebooks apply accountability research to important topics including standards, assessments, scoring, and reporting. 

• Alternative Assessments in Practice Database: User's Manual 
  
  
  Note: The disk that was part of the Alternative Assessments in Practice Database is no longer current and therefore not available online. However, we believe that the document itself may be a useful publication to those interested in alternative assessments.
• Assessing the Whole Child Guidebook 
  
• CRESST Performance Assessment Models 
  
• CSE Criterion-Referenced Test Handbook 
  
• Los Angeles Learning Center Assessment Guidebook 
  
• Los Angeles Learning Center Standards Guidebook 
  
• Portfolios and High Technology Guidebook 
  
• The Practicum in Instrunctional Development: Project Guidebook 
  
• User's Manual to ITRS Interrater/Test Reliability System 
  
• Writing What You Read Guidebook  

Assessments and Rubrics

• Sample Performance Tasks Prepared for Los Angeles Unified School District Division of Instructional Services 
  
• CLASSROOM ASSIGNMENT SCORING MANUAL: High School 
  
• CLASSROOM ASSIGNMENT SCORING MANUAL: Middle School 
  
• CLASSROOM ASSIGNMENT SCORING MANUAL: Elementary School 
  
• Performance Assignments Accomodations Reference Guide 
  
• Performance Assignments Scoring Handbook 
  
• Supplement to Performance Assignments 
  
INSTRUCTIONAL PACKETS 

Grade 2 Grade 4 Grade 6 Grade 8

Grade 3 Grade 5 Grade 7 Grade 9

STUFFED FILES 

Grade 2 Grade 4 Grade 6 Grade 8

Grade 3   Grade 7 Grade 9

STUFFED FILES (.sit, MAC)

Grade 2 Grade 4 Grade 6

Grade 3     Grade 9

Biofuels: Greener than Ever

Featured In: Editor's Picks | Bioscience Technology Magazine | Plant Studies | Biofuels | Environmental

By James Netterwald, PhDTuesday, June 1, 2010

Plant-based and algae-based biofuels are becoming more profitable than ever, leading to more green backs for opportunists of the green age.

Oil has long been the preferred source of energy for human industrial activity and has thus driven the progress of mankind more than a century. However, the overuse of oil or fossil fuel has led to (and this is still a controversial topic) a number of environmental disasters such as the phenomenon of global warming. This is not news to anyone. And, not surprisingly, to decrease our dependence on the old “black gold,” there has been increasing interest and intensive research, development, and commercialization of so-called alternative energy sources (wind energy, hydrothermal energy, and nuclear energy) over the last half-century. This is not news, either. More recently—over the last decade or so—there has been intensive work into the development of biofuels, which are basically naturally occurring oils produced by a number of different organisms including plants and algae. Some companies are biofuel developers, while others provide technologies that enable this development. In this article, both types of companies will be represented.

Testing growth rates of algae cultures under red and blue LED lighting. (Source: OriginOil)

Fueling biofuel growth One company that provides technologies for biofuel development is Eco-Solution. The company has actually developed an Optimized Natural Evolution (ONE) platform to improve some microorganisms (bacteria, yeast, and microalgae) without having to produce genetically modified organisms. The organisms are actually put under specific selective pressure that enhances desired characteristics akin to natural Darwinian evolution. Because of their rapid growth rates (with division times of one hour or less), bacteria naturally offer greater genetic variation than organisms like microalgae, which has a division time of 24 to 48 hours or more. In response to the different growth rates, Eco-Solution had to develop a high throughput platform to work with microalgae.

One company that provides technologies for biofuel development is . The company has actually developed an Optimized Natural Evolution (ONE) platform to improve some microorganisms (bacteria, yeast, and microalgae) without having to produce genetically modified organisms. The organisms are actually put under specific selective pressure that enhances desired characteristics akin to natural Darwinian evolution. Because of their rapid growth rates (with division times of one hour or less), bacteria naturally offer greater genetic variation than organisms like microalgae, which has a division time of 24 to 48 hours or more. In response to the different growth rates, Eco-Solution had to develop a high throughput platform to work with microalgae.

Dominique Duvauchelle, chief executive officer of Eco-Solution, explains the main differences between the two microorganisms as follows: “There may be millions of microorganisms in 20 milliliters of bacterial culture. And if you put a selective pressure on them, you will obtain mutants that are best fit to survive the stressing environment,” says Duvauchelle, who adds that to get the same amount of variation in a microalgae culture during a same period of time, Eco-Solution had to implement the ONE high throughput platform. “We are now submitting different microalgae to our unique ONE platform to improve their productivity in a way of reducing the production cost of algae-based biofuel. Our role in developing biofuels is to solve strain problems related to the productivity such as their growth rate, their resistance to inhibitors (e.g., temperature and pH), as well as to increase photosynthetic efficiency…to improve cost and efficiency of algae-based biofuel development.”

Sweet and Easy Biofuel production in an organism is a part of its metabolism, which is dependent on its growth status. Therefore, there is a relationship between growth status and optimal biofuel production. It is necessary to analyze the organism’s capability to produce a biofuel at various time points during its growth cycle. Flow cytometry is one of the tools used to determine whether an organism has reached a level of growth conducive to optimal biofuel production. For example, Guava EasyCyte four color flow cytometers, instruments produced byMillipore are used for this purpose. “Essentially, Guava EasyCyte flow cytometers are used to determine if the algae culture is ready to harvest for biofuel production,” says Jim Mulry, manager for clinical development and biofuels at Millipore Corporation, based in Hayward, California.  “The algal cells are counted in a patented counting system on-board the Guava cytometer. Forward and side-scatter measurements are then used to determine the size and integrity of the cells. A red fluorescent channel is used to identify chlorophyll A, which produces the lipids required for biofuel production. A green channel measures the mean quantity of lipids within the algal cells produced by chlorophyll A. Researchers then determine if the algae contains the maximum lipid content and is ripe for harvest,” says Mulry.

More on microalgae Microalgae require CO₂ for growth as it is the raw material for photosynthesis. So in order to grow microalgae commercially for the production of biofuels, there must be a way to deliver CO₂ to the microalgae culture. A company known as OriginOil (Los Angeles, Calif.) provides technologies to help developers of microalgae-produced biofuels scale up production.

Microalgae require CO₂ for growth as it is the raw material for photosynthesis. So in order to grow microalgae commercially for the production of biofuels, there must be a way to deliver CO₂ to the microalgae culture. A company known as (Los Angeles, Calif.) provides technologies to help developers of microalgae-produced biofuels scale up production. 

“It’s easy to make a little bit of algae but difficult to make a lot profitably,” says Riggs Eckelberry, chief executive officer of OriginOil. “So we are devoted to addressing the technology barriers to scaling up algae-based biofuel production, so that it can eventually compete with oil.”

One of OriginOil’s technologies is a CO₂ diffusion technology that allows developers to efficiently feed microalgae cultures. OriginOil was launched in 2007, largely on the success of its CO₂ diffusion technology “that does a very good job of breaking up CO₂ and the nutrients into very small particles, without a lot of energy needs, so that the algae can feed on it,” says Eckelberry. After growing the algae, there is a desire to harvest the oil from it to develop biofuels as well as to utilize the rest of the biomass for other commercial purposes.

“Around 10% of commercial algae cultures have the oil in them. The algae produce this oil not only for buoyancy but also as a food deserve. And this is basically high quality unsaturated vegetable oil which makes obviously a very good food but also as a source of plastics and fuel and so forth. So most people consider the algae oil to be the big value proposition but of course there is the green biomass, which also has a number of uses including being a source of methane gas.” 

“There are currently two methods for extracting oil from microalgae—a dry method and a wet method—both of which are very energy-dependent. As wet extraction pioneers, we can reduce that energy requirement by a factor of 10,” says Eckelbery, who adds that this method allows for extraction of algae from the water and extraction of the oil from the algae in one step. “The cavitation technology is very efficient at breaking things down without requiring a lot of energy. And in the extraction stage, we also do a low power electromagnetic pulsing, which essentially cracks the algae cell and then the oil separates itself over the course of an hour from the biomass.”

Biofuels from plants
Another biofuel-producing organism is Jatropa, which is a subtropical plant indigenous of Central America, where it produces the highest yields. Jatropa produces a fruit that contains seeds. The seeds contain concentrations of high quality vegetable oil between 30% and 40%. The oil is extracted either mechanically, or to produce higher yields, using a solvent extraction, and is then processed to produce a biofuel.

“What has really drawn us to the plant is that it grows on marginalized soil or underutilized lands that otherwise are not really ideal for food crop production. And based on this isolation, it does not displace food crops; it is also toxic when ingested, so it will not enter the food chain,” says Robert Schmidt, PhD, chief scientist at SGBiofuels, a Jatropa-based biofuel developer based in San Diego, Calif.

SG Biofuels has developed the largest Jatropha community farming initiative in Central America, with more than 1,500 acres already planted. (Source: SG Biofuels)

“We are interested in breeding plants that produce a significantly higher yield at lower input costs to make the crop truly profitable. Jatropa has the capacity to produce high quality crude oil..,” says Schmidt. The reason for this high quality oil is that the fatty acids are not saturated and, as a result, the oil stays in solution at low temperatures, which is very important especially when using the diesel fuel in Northern colder climates. “Jatropa has been used as jet fuel by the aviation industry. In tests with 50-50 blends of Jatropa oil and normal jet fuel, they measured the burn rates and found that the Jatropa fuel exceeded expectations in that it burned hotter than the jet fuel by itself. And they estimated that you can actually save 1.4 tons of fuel by using the Jatropa oil so that they can carry more personnel more cargo etc.,” says Schmidt.

Other major attributes of the plant that make it a very profitable organism for the development of biofuels include shorter maturation time than other feed crops used in biofuel production, allowing one to reach peak oil yields after four to five years, as well as a short seed production time.

“These attributes allow us to do breeding on this particular species and create new plants containing desirable traits such as high vigor, good oil production, and high disease resistance, all of which translate into greater profitability at lower costs of production.”

In summary, biofuel development is becoming more profitable and more efficient. As a result, there is an increasing number of biofuel companies looking to become players in the game.

This article was published in Bioscience Technology magazine: Vol. 34, No. 5, May, 2010, pp. 1, 12-13
.