Reuters Several new companies are betting on the little-known pongamia pinnata tree as a biodiesel feedstock that does not hurt food production, but a decade or more of research and development is still needed to determine its value as a commercial crop. Pongamia pinnata, also known as millettia pinnata, is native to Australia, India and parts of southeast Asia. Its oil has so far been used in medicines, lubricants and oil lamps. Pongamia is attractive because, after six years of cultivation, its oil yield is estimated to rise to around 23 tons per hectare per year — almost double yields of 12 tons from jatropha, another tree that is a biodiesel feed crop, and 11 tons from palm oil. It has attracted attention as pressure mounts to find sustainable alternative fuels to help meet countries' renewable energy targets and cut greenhouse gas emissions, without interfering with agricultural production. But prior experience with jatropha shows that what looks like a promising crop may prove disappointing. “Unless something has been commercially proven, I would not like to say that this is going to be a success,” said Hema Thakur, industry manager for chemicals, materials and foods at research consultancy Frost & Sullivan. “I would say pongamia stands a better chance than jatropha, but certain thresholds in terms of yield, production, plantation and commercial conversion to biodiesel would have to be met,” she added. The medium-sized evergreen pongamia can grow on marginal arid or semi-arid land and is a nitrogen-fixing tree, which means that it helps fertilize the soil. “The tree and oil composition look basically promising. However, it may take a long time to a large-scale, truly sustainable biofuel production,” said Birger Kerckow, secretariat at the European Biofuels Technology Platform. A few years ago, jatropha was hailed by investors and scientists as a biofuel alternative to fossil fuels that would not further impoverish developing countries by diverting resources away from food production. Its high oil yield and ability to grow on marginal land were attractive, but its commercial promise was overstated. Some farmers found that it needed fertiliser to thrive and that its harvesting and processing proved energy
