This document summarizes a consortium project between institutions in Japan, Indonesia, and Botswana to develop Jatropha plants that can produce clean biofuel through molecular breeding. The goals are to increase Jatropha productivity and develop plants that absorb more carbon dioxide. Participating organizations will work on molecular breeding techniques, field testing in different environments, and evaluating fuel production from higher yielding Jatropha varieties. The end goal is to assist energy needs in Asia and Africa through a sustainable Jatropha biofuel production system.

1. Technology infrastructure for the establishment of a
consortium to produce bio fuels from Jatropha
consortium to produce bio fuels from Jatropha
Major participants: Nara Institute of Science and Technology/Ryukyu University
Bio Eco Center/Bogor Agricultural University/Botswana Agriculture
Research Department/Nissan Motor Co., Ltd./CDM Consulting Co., Ltd.
Research Department/Nissan Motor Co., Ltd./CDM Consulting Co., Ltd.
Foundation for the promotion of Science and Technology Promotion of international joint research
International joint research for creating advanced technology
Present Molecular breeding project to create highly‐productive plants that can be a source of fuel
Projects
Nissan Science Foundation special research in environmental science
Increase CO2 absorption ability of plants by utilizing their ability to respond to their environment

2. Jatropha‐growing area in the world
Robust investment from the Netherlands to Indonesia
Asia
Latin America
Africa
NH Chua of Rockefeller Univ. started the project on full length cDNA of Jatropha
However, in the world there has been no project which aims to
, p j
increase productivity except ours.

3. Objective of research project: Development of Jatropha which can produce clean diesel fuel
that has zero pollution and minimal environmental impact
that has zero pollution and minimal environmental impact
This project aims energy assistance in Asia and Africa, forestation of degraded lands, and
reduction of CO2 through the enhancement of productivity of jatropha three times as much.
Univ. of the Ryukyus
Univ of the Ryukyus
Agriculture Dept.
Returning N, S, K, Bio Eco System Research Center
P, and Ca to soil
,
Unused plant
Unused plant
nutrient element:
C, N, S, P, K
Oil as diesel fuels feedstock
High‐producing environmentally‐
responsive gene Establishment of a
Nara Institute of Science and Technology completely
sustainable biodiesel
Plant High‐Tech
g
production system
d i
Molecular breeding of plants
producing “Solar energy fuel”

4. Energy crop for next generation
Improvement of jatropha Completion of 50% increase of
Productivity
photosynthetic function
photosynthetic function
productivity advance by
multifactorial
functional
Chloroplast Success in raising improvement
engineering photosynthetic ability
Establishment
of chloroplast Success of chloroplast
genome engineering Biomass plant at laboratory of
transfer Crop Science, University of the
Ryukyu
Ryukyu
Elimination
Eli i ti
of
productivity
suppressing
Nuclear factor
genome
Genes for strong light
Genes for strong light
engineering and drying resistance
High‐volume production and
Root growth Genes for
promoting
high quality of Jatropha
gene increasing
volume of Jatropha
oils
strategies
world
Realiized
dwide
High
drying technology of
gene transfer
suitable for
immersion producing Present jatropha of
diesel oil in overprotected cultivation
Genes which increase oils cold climates
and fats in jatropha
Realized by using type 4
nicotiana tabacum

5. Present research scheme
Molecular breeding research of jatropha, next generation plant, by enforcing
both photosynthetic and environment-responsive performance
Research supported by Nissan Science Foundation for the promotion of Science and Technology Promotion of
Foundation
Improvement of absorption performance international joint research “molecular breeding project to create highly-
of CO2 of trees by using environment -
f f t b i i t productive productive plants that can be a source of fuel”
fuel
responsive function. Screening of suitable species for cultivation
in Indonesia and Botswana
NAIST
・Improvement of RuBisCO
・Genes with environment‐ responsive
Genes with environment responsive Nara Institute of Science and technology(NAIST)
Nara Institute of Science and technology(NAIST)
performance ・Establishment of de‐ redifferentiation
・Growth promotion of roots Breeding for
Plant High Technology Institute jatropha
・Establishment of chloroplast gene transfer suitable for both
Research for outdoor
・Productivity enhancement
Productivity enhancement in Indonesia and
demonstration Botswana
University of the Ryukyus
・Establishment of functional assessment
Gene cluster with effective function ・Establishment of outdoor evaluation test method
・Grants in Aid for Scientific
Research
・ Nissan Science Foundation
・ Innovations and Clusters Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia
・ Research for Future Program ・Evaluation test on cultivation capability in Nusa Tenggara
Ministry of Agriculture of Botswana(DAR)
Domestic joined research body ・ Evaluation test on cultivation capability in Kalahari Desert
Nara I tit t of Science and technology
N Institute f S i dt h l
University of the Ryukyus
Plant High Technology Institute Field experiment of molecular breeding
species
Foreign joined research body
Bogor Agricultural University Indonesia
University,
Ministry of Agriculture of Botswana(DAR)

6. 7. Molecular breeding and evaluation of degree of contribution of energy environment plant with high
productivity
Technical Japanese Team Bogor Agricultural Univ. Botswana(DAR)
Development Phase
1. Establishment of
1. Systematic survey of 1. Mining of gene resources from
Phase 1 dedifferentiation and
environmental resistance and a wild watermelon
redifferentiation of jatropha
productivity 2. Screening of the best line of
JST 2. Analysis on breeding
y g
2.
2 Selection of species with high tropical jatropha bred in
Strategic capability of root of a wild
productivity Indonesia and in neighbor
promotion for watermelon
3. Maintenance of quarantined countries by cultivation test in
cooperation on 3. Transfer of genes promoting
agricultural field Kalahari Desert
scientific root growth to jatropha
4. Filed test using jatropha, 3. Maintenance of quarantined
technology in 4. Transfer of both
molecular bred in Japan agricultural field
Asia d Africa
A i and Af i photosynthesis and genes
promoting root growth
5. Evaluation on function of
transferred gene
At NAIST, on July 18th, 2007
Mngr. Maphanyane ( left )and After the symposium, Mngr.
Mr. Yokota are answering Maphanyane and Pfof. Yokota
questions in the lecture of an made a courtesy call on Mr.
Prof . Sony International symposium Motswagae, Botswanan
Members of ambassador t J
b d to Japan.
Suharsono, at
S h Prof . Armad Ansori
NAIST, who
biological resources Mattjik , who is
were listening
and biotechnology introcuding Bogor
to a talk by
Center, NAIST Agricultural Unviresitiy
Prof. Armad
at NAIST
Ansori Mattjik.
(Mr.Yokota at
the far left ) Basic technology for jatropha project has established
Full carbon cycling system using solar energy has completed
F ll b li t i l h l t d
Contribution to earth by environment and energy

7. Consortium Project on BDF production from high‐grade Jatropha oil
j p g g p
Nissan Science Foundation Research “Increase CO2 Expansion of Productivity
absorption ability of plants by utilizing their ability to Fat Composition
respond to their environment” Optimization
”
Foundation for the promotion of Science and Technology
Promotion of international joint research
“Molecular breeding project to create highly‐productive plants that
BDF
can be a source of fuel”
F Optimization
BDF Optimization
Feedback
Combustion Test
Jatrop
Raw Jatropha Oil
M9R Engine
M9R Engine
Clean Diesel pha BDF
Engine
Nissan Green
Program 2010