Namibia Workshop SANUMARC Univeristy of Namibia, Hentiesbay 3 - 5 June 2010

Presenter Biographies

THE JATROPHA SUPPLY CHAIN - GAPS BETWEEN SUPPLY AND DEMAND

Jatropha farming in Ghana and most other countries between the Tropics has started, but not grown significantly over the past 2 years. Demand for large commercial scale deliveries of Jatropha oil is evident from some European countries. However developed supply chains capable of producing commodity level priced Jatropha oil do not yet exist in many countries. There are gaps in terms of scale, timescale, and the types of investment required to establish mature, efficient markets. However there are also opportunities for local markets to be established and to help developing nations to be less dependent on fossil fuels.

Presented by:

Clive Coker leads Jatropha Africa, a Jatropha grower in Ghana, which supplies biodiesel products and oil seeds to Europe, Asia and the US. He holds an MSc in Environmental Engineering from the University of Glasgow, and an MBA from the Open University.

Prior to co-founding Jatropha Africa, Clive successfully managed UK government funded innovation projects, working with UK universities and the DTI Innovation Unit. His first career was as a Chartered Engineer managing construction projects in the UK, Germany and the Falkland Islands. Such projects included the design and construction of aircraft support facilities, hospitals and oil fuel depots.

Jatropha Africa currently cultivates Jatropha on its 100 Hectares managed farm. In addition we manage a network of over 40 smaller farmers who have added Jatropha to their traditional activities. We hold leases on 50,000 Hectares of land that is well suited to Jatropha. Under Mr Coker’s leadership, Jatropha Africa has worked with 4 villages in Ghana to agree to land leases and working arrangements for the development of previously unused land, for Jatropha cultivation. This led to the establishment of plant nurseries and the nomination of Jatropha Africa by the Ghana Ministry of Energy to be the private sector partner of a UNIDA funded project for the electrification of rural communities.

Jatropha Africa is a partner in an EU funded project to support the development of supply chains in the Jatropha industry in Africa. Through this project, Clive informs academics in UK, Italian and African universities on the non-food biofuel industry.