Jatropha is going through some tough times as a possible feedstock for biodiesel. The yields that farmers are getting of jatropha seeds is only a fraction of what they expected they would get.

But Jatropha plant and oil need not only be used for producing biodiesel! Here's a short note on biopolymer production from jatropha:

'Central Salt and Marine Chemical Research Institute (CSMCRI) claimed that it has produced biodegradable plastic from glycerin, obtained during the process of bio-diesel extraction from the Jatropha seed. The biodegradable plastic production from the crude glycerol was facilitated by micro organism from Indian waters'

I think this is indeed the crux of many biofuel feedstocks. These feedstock can be used not only to produce oil, but also other byproducts that could have a value in the market, thus producing another revenue stream. This has the potential to make the entire process more economically sustainable.

In the context of Jatropha, the plant could be exciting because practically every part of the plant could be used for something beneficial, this making it a plant into which it is worth putting in significant research dollars. Products such as bioplastics have a growing market with good profit margins, thus making jatropha an even more attractive feedstock for the future

What are your thoughts on Jatropha-based non fuel products?

Here is a link that might be useful: Bio-plastic from Jatropha