Ontelly

Jatropha the Wonder Plant

Logo for Jatropha the Wonder Plant

Chandy Nath explores the properties of Jatropha, a wild plant that has been growing in the tropics for centuries. As well as having medical applications, it is used in the manufacture of candles and soap. But as oil prices rise and the impact of global warming becomes clearer, Jatropha is being cultivated and planted on a massive scale for use as a biofuel. Could this extraordinary plant be the solution to the world's energy needs?