Although ethanol is part of the drive to reduce dependence upon fossil fuels, the fact is that its production has been blamed for the rising price of corn, sugar and other foodstuffs.

Atlantic Energy Research has been at the forefront of the search for alternatives to corn and sugar-based ethanol as investors continue to seek opportunities in biofuels. The firm has been encouraged by the potential of a fuel developed from a source called Jatropha curcas.

Jatropha curcas is a poisonous plant that grows in abundance in Africa, Central and South America, Asia, and the Caribbean. The plant can co-exist alongside other crops including coffee, sugar, fruit and vegetables. Farmers already use the plant to defend their pre-existing crops from animals and insects. Jatropha plant seeds can be pulped to produce oil that can be burned in an unmodified diesel car engine while the remaining residue's uses include fuel for electricity plants and fertilizer.

Jatropha is able grow in areas where the environment is dry and inhospitable or where the soil has experienced erosion.

Since 2007, Jatropha has been considered to be a viable source of biofuel by a number of organizations but only recently have projects aimed at jatropha production been implemented to demonstrate the impact they can have on rural communities. Mali, a poor African nation, has abundant renewable energy resources that can be utilized to make a pertinent and tangible difference to rural Malians needing access to affordable electricity.

Atlantic Energy Research has identified a number of innovative companies that have set up sustainable biodiesel processors in parts of West Africa. Several of these firms have eschewed the traditional and somewhat callous practice of simply buying land cheaply from locals who do not appreciate the value of the under their very feet and, instead, have sought to offer the farmers a share in the profits which should benefit the entire community.

In contrast to other sources of biofuel, Jatropha production represents no threat to local food production and offers the most sensible advantages for the local farmer and the environment since it enables farmers to produce food whilst simultaneously reducing soil erosion, increasing soil fertility and boosting food crop yield.

The jatropha-derived biofuel is sold at a keen price, which is roughly 10 percent cheaper than the pump price of ordinary fuel.

Clearly, the jatropha plant has a number of advantages when one considers both the economic benefits for the local Malian communities and the exciting prospects for another sustainable energy alternative for the rest of the world. Atlantic Energy Research believes that communities cultivating jatropha seed in Mali are a good example of how forward-thinking and innovative companies are harnessing technology to tackle carbon emissions issues while, at the same time, making a real difference to poorer communities and, of course, generating healthy profits for shareholders.