Jatropha is sometimes referred to as “green gold” given the properties – similar to those of diesel - characterizing jatropha oil.

Sustainability standards
In light of the current debate, biofuels producers have an interest in complying with agreed standards to maximise positive and mitigate negative impacts, as well as to minimise commercial and reputational risks. Sustainability standards are available for many agricultural commodities, such as sugarcane, palm oil or soybean, that are facing similar challenges. Most of these standards do not address food security and give little guidance on how to assess particular land rights issues. The sustainability standard for biofuels gives high emphasis to both issues.

The Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels
The Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB) is an international multi-stakeholder initiative launched and coordinated by the Energy Science Center at EPFL in Lausanne. RSB brings together farmers, companies, non-governmental organisations, and governments concerned with the sustainability of biofuels production and processing. The RSB has already developed a third-party certification system for biofuels, encompassing environmental, social and economic principles and criteria. A first set of guidelines has been issued to assist operators comply with the standard. RSB principles and criteria require amongst other things an assessment of the implications on local food security, land and water rights, and local development. Yet, these criteria and guidelines require further refining for implementation in order to turn them into effective support tools for biofuels operators and to provide minimum safeguards for sustainability.

The draft guidelines have been pilot-tested in 6 locations on 3 continents. The results of these pilot-tests will allow revision of the guidelines to be conducted and the final version to be issued in mid-2012. On the basis of these guidelines, operators that apply for certification will have to demonstrate how they can mitigate any potential negative effects on food security. In food insecure regions, they will have to implement complementary measures that enhance local food security for the directly affected populations. With regard to land rights, operators have to assess, document and establish both formal and informal land rights and prove that they respect these rights. Moreover, they must not use any land until any legitimate dispute has been settled through free, prior and informed consent.

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