All Entries Tagged With: "jatropha"

Toyota Making Bio-Diesel Investment in Philippines

Toyota and the Philippine government have reached a basic memorandum of understanding in regards to creating a bio-diesel production facility (see Manila Standard). This is only the first step in a very long process, but it represents an interesting investment on behalf of Toyota. Considering that Toyota is cutting costs everywhere, investing in a bio-diesel plant in this economic climate could only be justified if it was a strategic move.

Toyota invests in bio-diesel made from jatropha curcas.

First, a little background. Toyota’s bio-diesel investment will be a small scale jatropha curcas plantation and refinery. Depending on how the trial goes, Toyota may invest in a facility capable of producing 7 to 8 million gallons of bio-diesel per year. Toyota’s bio-diesel crop of choice – jatropha curcas seeds (also known as purging seeds) – are desirable number of reasons.