2010-04-25

After 3 years of pioneering research into new crops we think it is time to move to the next level...
What has changed since 2007? In the world of renewable feedstocks things move fast. The amount of new crops and options changed the business plans and focus many times. Jatropha, Pongamia, Elephant grass, exotic and less exotic options have been evaluated, tested and ... we came back to our first choice: Mamona or Castor bean. Only with one difference. This time we can triple or even quadruple our yields. With large scale irrigated first generation Mamona we calculated returns of around 20%. Now our return on investment will be reached years sooner, allowing us to produce on a large scale within several years. Much has changed for our business planning and forecasted financial results.
Also much will change in our planned partnership with small and medium sized farmers. With the present varieties our pilot with family farmers on semi arid grounds showed that results are too slim. The new highly productive varieties will change this. These farmers will not only depend on subsidies, but receive a sustainable economic income from this Mamona. With predicted yields of 3,000 kg per hectare on semi arid and non- irrigated lands the new generation Mamona will contribute to an income of almost 3 minimum salaries during the cultivation time of 6 months.
newsletter_2010.pdf