Chemical fertilizers, pesticides and fossil energy/fuels are excessively used in most farming operations world-wide. All these inputs are damaging the environment and leading to ecological destruction...

The question is, are there any solutions to this problem? After evaluating many years of intensive research on Jatropha plantations planted in an agro-forestry environment, Waterland has concluded that the answer lies in : “Biological Farming”.

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Dozens of explosions of 3-kilogram LPG canisters have rocked Malang, East Java, causing anxiety among locals using them to fuel their gas stoves.

Those determined not to spoil the broth have reverted to using kerosene stoves despite the fairly high price of this fuel, costing Rp 8,000 (S$1.20) per liter.

Put off by the price of kerosene, the Do-It-Yourself Didik opted to use the seeds or kernels of jarak pagar, a type of castor-oil plant (also called Jatropha curcas L), as an alternative biofuel.

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Related article link - Waterland, Bosch & Siemens Home Appliance Group's Protos Stove to local communities

National airline Garuda Indonesia is finalizing preparations to use biofuel in an attempt to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, a senior official said on Monday.

“We are in the process of changing from avtur [aviation fuel] to biofuel. Not a single [domestic] airline has done it yet. We will be implementing this plan in stages and it will not necessarily be achieved within this year,” Garuda commissioner Wendy Aritonang said.

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British Airways and Continental Airlines are in the process of testing jet fuels made from plants. The biofuels made from flora, such as camelina and jatropha, are being trialled by the Boeing Corporation along with a number of airlines.

Jatropha seeds can be used to make biodiesel as they are 40 per cent oil...

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Jatoil has officially launched its new joint venture in Indonesia and shipped the first commercial supply of crude jatropha oil to the airline industry.

A ceremony was held on 7 July 2010 in Semarang.  In attendance were Phil Hodgson - Chief Executive Officer, Jatoil Limited; Drs William Nolton - Managing Director, Waterland Group; Bupati - Regency; Perum Perhutani - State Owned Forest Enterprise, senior officials; and senior members of the local farmers groups.

Central Java ‘In The News’ (Jawa Tengah Dalam Berita) broadcast the event.  Please follow the link You Tube to view the broadcast.