Tree-borne Oilseed Crops: Jatropha curcas, Ricinus communis, Anacardium occidentale and Some Native Trees for Oil Production for Bio-energy Source in Papua New Guinea

A heavy dependence on non-renewable fossil fuel as energy source by industries is contributing to environmental degradation due to emission of toxic gases particularly carbon. This has become a global concern and an interest has aroused in finding an alternative energy source from organic biomasses to produce bio-energy whilst at the same time provides solution to lessen environmental degradation. Crude oil derivatives from tree-borne oilseed (TBO) plants are likely bio-energy source to replace fossil fuel products. Additionally, agroforestry biomasses/residues are alternative feedstock to source bio-energy. This paper discussed the three TBO crops (Jatropha curcas, Ricinus communis and Anacardium occidentale) and their potential to yield oils for biofuel production to source energy and possibility of commercial cultivation in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Since introduction by early European settlers, these crops naturalized well in PNG environmental conditions where they have promising growth performances and produce crude oils from their seed kernels. Presently, their oil extraction and utilization is not commercially known in PNG but limited to local use only. Also, this paper highlighted commercially grown crops for crude oil production and native TBO trees. Further, it is suggested that TBO trees have huge potential and such plants could be adopted as planting stocks for intercropping in agroforestry practices.