Former weed may fill world's fuel tanks

In the world's most arid agricultural environments, jatropha is emerging as an alternative to ethanol.

Germinal industry: A woman tended a jatropha plant last October northeast of Mumbai. Foreign firms are contracting villagers to grow the oil-rich plant. Reuters/Newscom

By Mark Sappenfield | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

Reporters on the job: Mark Sappenfield shares the story behind the story .

JAGDALPUR, INDIA - In an overgrown corner of Moolchand Sethia's plantation, runty and unloved, stands what could be the next revolution in the world's search for renewable fuel.

From China to Brazil, countries have begun setting aside tens of thousands of acres for the cultivation of jatropha – a plant many experts say is the most promising source for biodiesel. At the same time, companies from Europe and India have begun buying up land throughout Africa to establish jatropha plantations.