SG Biofuels announced a strategic alliance with Life Technologies Corporation to advance the development of Jatropha as a sustainable biofuel.

The partnership will initially include sequencing the Jatropha curcas genome, allowing for the rapid introduction of new traits targeted toward increasing the yield of the oil-producing plant. Life Technologies will also become a strategic partner in SG Biofuels.

For the record, Jatropha curcas is a non-edible shrub that is native to Central America. Its seeds contain high amounts of oil that can be used as biodiesel and feedstock substitutes for the petrochemical and jet fuel industries. It can be effectively grown on marginal lands that are considered undesirable for other crops.

[source: SG Biofuels]