RIMS, in partnership with EIAS (www.eias.org, dr Heemskerk is Advisory board member) and with support of EBTC (www.ebtc.eu/events, see 21Dec12), organized a multi-stakeholder Round table (Global Knowledge Platform for sustainable solutions for Jatropha based Biofuels in India”) to discuss barriers to exploitation of Jatropha as energy crop. Development of other varieties, improvement in agronomy practices, use of secondary valuable products and looking for alternative business models, including non-commercial use to generate social value for communities were all discussed. dr Heemskerk led these final discussions. In addition to international speakers, the Indian participants were actively contributing as representatives were present from industry, academia and various government bodies. The event was hosted by the PHD chambers of commerce and industry (see http://www.eias.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=303), was opened by mr Gaston Stronck, HE Ambassador of the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg to India and closed by the Joint Secretary Mr Alok Srivastava, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), India.
