28th Nov 2005 07:00
D1 Oils Plc28 November 2005 28th November 2005 Leading Indian Scientist to Head D1 Oils Jatropha Research D1 Oils plc (D1), the UK-based global producer of biodiesel from renewableenergy crops, has appointed Dr. Sunil Puri, a leading Indian agronomist, to headD1's Product Development Centre (PDC) in Coimbatore, India. Dr. Puri will leadD1's expanding research programme to develop jatropha into a commercial cropproducing consistently high yields of vegetable oil for the production ofbiodiesel. Dr. Puri is a leading expert on the agronomy of jatropha and wasrecently selected as a Fellow of India's National Academy of AgriculturalSciences. Dr. Puri will head research to improve the yields of highly productive varietiesof jatropha collected by D1 and to identify the varieties that grow best inparticular soil and climatic conditions. Dr Puri will also have overallresponsibility in India for the further development of commercial cultivationpractices and training programmes. India is expected to be a key location for the production and consumption ofjatropha biodiesel. The largest component of D1's increased two year plantingtarget of 267,000 hectares will take place in India. Planting is beingundertaken by contract farmers through D1's Indian joint venture, D1 Mohan BioOils, and by third parties with whom D1 has concluded oil supply agreements andto whom D1 provides seeds and planting support. D1 recently announced an oilsupply agreement for oil harvested from 40,000 hectares of jatropha to beplanted by PManek Biofarms in Gujarat. Dr. Puri's research experience has been in the selection and development ofgenetically superior tree species for agroforestry and planting on waste anddegraded lands. Dr. Puri co-ordinated jatropha research and development across35 leading Indian agricultural and agroforestry institutions on behalf of theIndian National Oil Seeds and Vegetable Oils Development Board (NOVOD), adepartment of the Indian Ministry of Agriculture. He has also been involved forover two decades with the practical implementation of new forestry crops,including the organisation of education programmes for farmers and districtforestry officers. Dr. Puri joins D1 from Indira Gandhi Agricultural University,Raipur, where he was previously Professor and Head of the Forestry Department. Philip Wood, CEO of D1, said, "This is a key appointment. Dr. Puri is one ofIndia's leading agricultural scientists and an established expert on jatropha.We aim to deliver new varieties of high yielding jatropha that will be theglobal benchmark for biodiesel feedstock. Dr. Puri's experience in the selectionand development of jatropha tree varieties and the improvement of their yieldswill be crucial to this effort. His involvement will help us to extend furtherour lead as pioneers in the commercialisation of jatropha and meet an aggressiveprogramme to plant high yielding trees. We are very pleased to welcome Dr. Purito our strengthening management team." Commenting on his appointment, Dr. Puri said: "D1 Oils' reputation in India ispre-eminent in this field because of its selection of jatropha seed as a sourceof biodiesel feedstock. My aim will be to increase sustainable economic returnsfrom jatropha planting as quickly as possible on a large scale, by makingavailable suitable good quality planting stock and developing and executing bestpractice planting programmes. With the dedicated team at D1, I am confident ofachieving significant progress in this under developed crop. It is a privilegeto be joining the company." Contact D1 Oils:Graham Prince, Head of Corporate CommunicationsTel: +44 (0) 20 7321 3892Mobile: +44 (0) 7973 323840 Brunswick Group:Helen Barnes, Associate PartnerTel: +44 (0) 20 7404 5959 D1 Oils IndiaSteve DoutyRegional DirectorTel: +44 (0)20 7321 3885 Notes to Editors D1 is a UK-based global producer of biodiesel from renewable energy crops. It isthe owner of technical, marketing, logistical and other intellectual propertyrelated to the establishment, development and harvesting of jatrophaplantations, the extraction of oil from the harvested seed and the production ofbiodiesel and other valuable by-products from jatropha and other vegetable oils. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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