"We would have been happy to have shared our data and experience with FOE on the performance of the [jatropha] crop, both in Swaziland and elsewhere", commented D1 Oils today in a bullish response to the NGO's negative report on Friday. "FoE did not offer us this opportunity. In our view this weakens what could have been a useful addition to research on Jatropha."

The report from FoE on Friday, 'Jatropha: wonder crop?', called into question D1 Oil's trials of jatropha in Swaziland. However, in a staement to Biofuel Review today, Graham Prince, the company's spokesman said; "D1 is committed to an open debate on fuel crops based on good science."

"We would agree with many of their conclusions concerning the performance of the crop in that country to date. Jatropha planting in Swaziland has delivered disappointing results and our Jatropha planting joint venture with BP, D1-BP Fuel Crops Limited, took the decision to withdraw from Swaziland as part of the reorganisation of the business that is currently underway", said Prince.

Prince was clear that the FoE report was misleading in terms of D1's position on jatropha. "In its report FoE has unfortunately drawn on out-of-date or inaccurate information when representing D1’s claims for Jatropha", said Prince.  "In particular, we have never claimed that Jatropha will grow on all marginal or waste land, nor have we any operations in Saudi Arabia to explore planting in the desert. We have made very clear in our recent materials that marginal land is likely to deliver only marginal yields. We have never claimed that Jatropha is a plant-and-forget crop."

He continued; "Jatropha requires water, fertiliser and, when planted as a monocrop on any scale, protection from pests and disease. We are investing significantly in research into the optimal level of inputs for different planting regions. Furthermore, sustainable planting of Jatropha is a priority for D1. We monitor closely how farmers are planting the crop and we do not encourage planting on food grade land. We aim to work to the highest standards in partnership with local people."

"We disagree fundamentally with FOE’s conclusion that Jatropha development should be halted because not enough is known of the crop," argued Prince. "Jatropha is a new energy crop and subject to agricultural risk. Improvements that have been delivered in agriculture, as in other fields of human development, depend on taking appropriate risk to advance understanding and experience. We will make little progress in the field of renewable energy if we halt the development of potentially sustainable crops because of 'unknown unknowns'" he concluded.