by Jasmine Hines (ABC Capricornia) The native beauty leaf tree could be grown in large-scale plantations on marginal land for biofuel; Researcher Nanjappa Ashwath says the trees could produce 4,000 litres of biofuel per hectare each year; The bioenergy sector could contribute an extra $10 billion to the economy annually by the 2030s
As Australia pushes forward in its net zero emissions commitments, some believe the key to a greener fuel could be hidden in the oil-rich seeds of the native beauty leaf tree.
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But CQ University researcher Nanjappa Ashwath says he has found the beauty leaf tree, or Calophyllum inophyllum, can be grown on marginal land, ending the food-versus-fuel land-use debate that has plagued the biofuel sector.
“The tree produces about 10,000 fruits per tree per year, which equals to it producing up to 4,000 litres of biodiesel per hectare per year – and that’s growing up in a really marginal soil,” he said.
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Dr Ashwath said in good news for time-poor producers, the seeds did not require harvesting as they naturally fell to the ground and could be collected up to six months later.
He said the oils of the tree could also be made into the less-profitable medicinal Tamanu oil, with 15 millilitres costing about $25.
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And while it did not grow in drought, he said it tolerated hot and dry conditions as well as waterlogging, making it a suitable plantation for areas in northern Australia from Rockhampton up to Cairns, including around Darwin.
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Dr Ashwath said overall demand for biodiesel remained low because it was still cheaper to buy traditional petroleum diesel, but other countries were showing interest in the beauty leaf tree.
“There are many inquiries, especially in Indonesia [where] they’re establishing quite large plantations, especially in the islands where they don’t have the supply of the petroleum diesel,” he said.
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“Papua New Guinea is also interested in growing these because these plantations occur naturally, and Sri Lanka is also doing quite a lot of research on it.”
But Dr Ashwath said for producers looking for extra income, plantations of thousands of hectares would be required to turn a profit. READ MORE
